SAN DIEGO – Little information was available about the latest injured Pirates player, though it didn’t look good.
Trevor Williams struck out Wil Myers for the second out of the fourth inning and grabbed his right side. When Clint Hurdle and the trainers came to the mound, Williams didn’t even attempt a practice pitch before walking to the dugout.
Williams had already left the clubhouse by the time it opened to the media Thursday night following the Pirates’ 4-3 loss to the Padres in the opener of a four-game series at Petco Park. Hurdle said he had no more information beyond the fact Williams exited because of discomfort in his side.
However, if Williams is to go on the injured list – which seems likely when you watch the video -- it would further muddle the Pirates’ starting pitching outlook.
Opening-day starter Jameson Taillon is out at least through the end of June with an elbow flexor strain. The Pirates have had such a difficult time finding a replacement that they are considering using an opener Saturday night against the Padres.
Chris Archer returned from the injured list Wednesday after missing three weeks with right thumb inflammation. He was rocked for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Because of the injuries to Archer and Taillon, Steven Brault and Nick Kingham were given two starts each the past two weeks after competing for a rotation spot in spring training, then winding up in relief roles to start the season. Both struggled mightily, though Brault will start Saturday if the Pirates don’t go the opener route. Hurdle said before the game that Kingham will now be used solely in relief.
That leaves Archer, Jordan Lyles and Joe Musgrove as the three current rotation certainties.
Archer’s shaky outing Wednesday did not inspire confidence. Lyles is off to a great start with a 3-1 record and 2.09 ERA in seven turns through the rotation, but he has been the definition of a journeyman during his nine-year career. Musgrove bounced back with one-hit ball over seven shutouts innings Tuesday night in a win against the Diamondbacks but was tagged for a combined 15 runs in 5 2/3 innings in his previous two starts.
The Pirates have said they would prefer to give their top prospect, 23-year-old right-hander Mitch Keller, more developmental time at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he is 4-0 with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts this season. However, they may have no choice but to promote Keller.
Williams, meanwhile, has been the Pirates’ most consistent starter this season, going 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA. Until Thursday, he had pitched at least six innings in all eight starts and walked more than one batter in only one of those outings.
The Padres got only one run off Williams in 3 2/3 innings as Franmil Reyes hit a solo home run to center field in the third. That was just one of two hits allowed by Williams, who struck out five and walked two.
“It’s hard to evaluate his outing tonight,” Hurdle said. “He was out there competing and making pitches like he always does.”
Williams could become the 20th Pirates player to go on the IL this season. They have 10 players currently on the list.
Kevin Newman told me the Pirates (21-20) have learned to deal with the injuries and aren’t fazed when another player hits the IL:
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE GOOD
Veteran left-hander Francisco Liriano wasn’t assured of making the team until the 11th hour in spring training after a number of shaky Grapefruit League performances.
However, he has shined in the regular season. He relieved Williams and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
In 19 games, Liriano has a 0.89 ERA, allowing two runs on 13 hits in 20 1/3 innings with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks.
THE BAD
Richard Rodriguez was brought in to start the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead and couldn’t hold it, giving up yet another home run. This time, Ian Kinsler crushed a flat slider for a three-run shot.
The Pirates got within a run at 4-3 on Gregory Polanco’s homer in the seventh but couldn't rally to tie it.
Rodriguez has now allowed eight homers, the most of any reliever in the major leagues. And they have come in just 19 2/3 innings, an average of 3.66 per nine innings.
Last season as a rookie, Rodriguez allowed just five homers in 69 2/3 innings.
"It’s kind of where he’s living right now, every mistake he’s making is getting hit out of the ballpark,” Hurdle said when I asked about Rodriguez’s problems with the gopherball. “It’s got to be tough navigating for him right know. You don’t want him to start second-guessing himself. He wants to go with his strength, but he’s also got to find something else beside the fastball from time-to-time. It’s a hard spot for him.”
THE OTHER SIDE
Kinsler had a profane outburst once he crossed home plate following his home run, looking directly into the stands.
Padres fans have taken their frustration out on Kinsler on social media as the veteran second baseman is hitting just .175/.233/.342 with five homers in 37 games games in his first season in San Diego. However, Kinsler denied he was venting at the fans when asked by reporters after the game.
"That was for my teammates," Kinsler said. "It had nothing to do with the fans. It's for my teammates. It's an inside thing with them. Just trying to get everybody fired up. I'm a passionate player. I try to get my teammates going. That was it."
Kinsler helped the Padres (23-21) snap a three-game losing streak.
THE DATA
• Josh Bell's career-best 15-game hitting streak ended as he was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Bell entered the game 4 for 6 in his career against Padres starter Eric Lauer.
• Liriano tied a season high with three strikeouts and he has not allowed a run in 18 of his 19 appearances this season. He has pitched 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
• Elias Diaz went 2-for-4 for his first multihit game since last Sept. 26.
• Newman has reached base in seven of his past eight games, including three multihit games in that span.
• Polanco's home run was measured at 423 feet as it carried deep into the right-field stands.
THE INJURIES
• Trevor Williams, right-hander, left Thursday's game in the fourth inning with discomfort in his right side. No further information was available from the Pirates.
• Jung Ho Kang, third baseman, is on the 10-day IL with a strained left side.
• Corey Dickerson, outfielder, is on the 10-day IL with a strained right shoulder.
• Keone Kela, right-hander, is on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.
• Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder, is on the 10-day IL with a broken right hand. He is on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis.
• Jacob Stallings, catcher, is on the 10-day IL with a cervical neck strain. He's on a rehab assignment with Indianapolis.
• Jameson Taillon, right-hander, is on the 60-day IL with a strained right forearm flexor tendon.
• Erik Gonzalez, shortstop, is on the 60-day IL with a fractured right clavicle.
• Nick Burdi, relief pitcher, is on the 60-day IL with right elbow/biceps pain caused by a nerve problem.
THE SCHEDULE
The second game of the series is at 10:10 p.m. Eastern time on Friday with Lyles (3-1, 2.09) facing left-hander Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.57). I will have the coverage once the Pirates' clubhouse opens to the media at 6:30 p.m. ET.
THE COVERAGE
All of our expanded baseball coverage, including Mound Visit by Jason Rollison, Indy Watch by Matt Welch and Altoona Watch by Jarrod Prugar, can be found on our team page.