SAN FRANCISCO — Clint Hurdle is opting to give his rotation additional rest with the Pirates competing for a playoff spot. Clay Holmes, a right-hander with two big-league starts, will make a spot start Friday against the Giants, bumping Trevor Williams and the rest back a day.
The decision was made following the All-Star break, Hurdle said, to give the starters time off after a three-game series in the mile-high altitude of Coors Field. Williams will now start Saturday, followed by Joe Musgrove Sunday, Jameson Taillon was bumped back to Tuesday in Minneapolis and Chris Archer Wednesday.
"We had this talked about after the All-Star break, planning to come out of Colorado, the rotation," Hurdle said. "Clayton had pitched a couple games, finding a way to get guys extra rest coming out of Colorado, so this has been part of the plan for a while."
Holmes, 25, was outstanding in his last start for the Pirates, pitching six scoreless innings with six strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader July 14 against the Brewers. The former ninth-round pick has a 1.37 WHIP, 92 strikeouts and 38 walks in 89 1/3 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.
He'll be officially promoted from Triple-A prior to first pitch Friday, when a corresponding move will be made to make room for him on the roster. Williams has surrendered just two runs in his last four starts, a stretch of 22 innings, and has been the starting pitcher in six of the club's 12 shutouts. He allowed two runs in a 2-1 loss to the Cardinals last Sunday at PNC Park.
The move could be made specifically for Musgrove and Taillon. Musgrove, who missed the start of the season with a right shoulder injury, allowed two runs in seven innings against the Rockies Monday and has thrown 74 innings after pitching 109 1/3 in the regular season for the Astros in 2017.
He hasn't made more than 15 starts in a season since being drafted in the first round by the Blue Jays in 2011 and spent the second half of last season, including the World Series run, in the Astros' bullpen. Taillon's made 23 starts, only two fewer than last season, and pitched a 107-pitch complete game Tuesday at Coors Field.
It was his second complete game of the season, and although he pitched six scoreless innings following his first one in April, Taillon posted a 6.97 ERA over seven starts from April 19 to May 22. Archer, meanwhile, labored through five innings Wednesday, throwing 98 pitches and allowing two runs on five hits. He's thrown 105 1/3 innings this season, which is almost 29 fewer than Taillon.
Dating back to July 7, the Pirates lead the National League with a 3.08 ERA and a 19-9 record. Only the Athletics have a lower ERA in the majors in that span. Ivan Nova, starting the series opener Thursday, has thrown 118 1/3 innings and struggled in the second half of last season because of a lingering knee injury.
Musgrove appeared to throw at AT&T Park Thursday afternoon, while Williams threw in the bullpen Wednesday at Coors Field in preparation for his next start. Archer nearly missed his scheduled start Wednesday because of an illness, although he was running sprints in the outfield in San Francisco.
"To find a way to continue to advance his development and his growth because we believe he's good enough that he's going to help us," Hurdle said of Holmes. "He may have to help us again this month and possibly in September as well. It's all part of the package, the pitching package, and I do think it will benefit the other guys, especially the ones that pitched in Colorado."