SAN FRANCISCO — The Pirates added reinforcements for their bullpen Saturday, recalling lefty Buddy Boshers and right-hander Michael Feliz from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to first pitch at AT&T Park.
In corresponding moves, Clay Holmes, who allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings of a spot start Friday, and reliever Casey Sadler were optioned. Both Boshers and Feliz can provide Clint Hurdle multiple innings in the event Trevor Williams has a short start. While Boshers pitched only one scoreless inning after being claimed off waivers from the Astros Tuesday, Feliz struggled in his first two appearances with Indianapolis.
Boshers had a 3.18 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 41 relief appearances, 51 innings, for Triple-A Fresno this season, walking 2.6 batters per nine innings — the second-lowest mark in the Pacific Coast League. He hasn’t pitched in the majors this season, but he appeared in 38 games for the Twins last season before being designated for assignment by them in January. The 30-year-old had a 1.34 WHIP and 28 strikeouts to 10 walks while allowing 9.5 hits per nine innings.
He’s posted a 1.27 WHIP in 86 1/3 big-league innings during his career, including a 1.16 WHIP with the Twins in 2016.
"He was involved in a [playoff] race last year in Arizona," Clint Hurdle said. "We spoke about that a little bit, had a conversation. He's another guy that's put time in that's looking for his next opportunity at the major-league level. We've had some people hunting him for a while, keeping an eye on him. We like what he brings."
Feliz, acquried as part of the Gerrit Cole trade this offseason, had a 5.53 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 40 2/3 innings with the Pirates. He posted a 0.90 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 20 innings after the season opener. Opponents batted just .181 against him in that span. But he allowed two or more runs in four of his next six outings and was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation June 24.
Feliz couldn’t command his breaking pitches — including what used to be an effective slider – so, Ray Searage taught him how to throw a split-finger fastball. It didn’t lead to any improvement. Although opponents batted just .206 against the slider, Feliz had little confidence in throwing the pitch, opting to use his fastball 75 percent of the time.
His velocity was down from last season, and the whiff rate on each of his pitches also dropped. He posted an 8.27 ERA with a .317 opponents’ batting average over his past 17 outings dating back to May 23, allowing 27 hits in that span.
Feliz has thrown a pair of scoreless innings for Indianapolis since allowing five earned runs in his second appearance. Sadler threw 86 pitchers over the past two nights, allowing seven runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits. His appearance Friday was his first in the majors since he made a spot start April 12, 2015 for the Pirates.