CINCINNATI -- The Pirates just keep shuffling the deck.
Monday, Alex McRae was selected to the team's 40-man roster from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room for his arrival, Corey Dickerson was transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL.
In addition, the Pirates have added Richard Rodriguez as the 26th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Reds. To clear space for Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, each team is allowed to carry an extra man on their active roster for a doubleheader. Since the doubleheader was scheduled more than 48 hours ago, Rodriguez — and the Reds’ addition — are eligible to appear in both games.
McRae, 26, made his MLB debut for the Pirates last season, going 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and 2.053 WHIP. Since then, he's spent time with the Indianapolis Indians, going 4-2 this season with a 5.18 ERA and 1.377 WHIP.
"I'm not as nervous as I was last year when I got called up for the first time, so it's a little more calming, I guess. I feel a little more comfortable, so it's good," McRae was telling us inside the visiting clubhouse in Cincinnati.
In addition to the experience itself, McRae also feels he's simply a better pitcher now than he was in 2018, and he's eager to show off his improvements.
"I learned how to use my stuff a little bit more, using all my pitches in different ways and just kind of honed all my stuff," McRae was telling me.
Dickerson, meanwhile, is on a rehab assignment with the Indians. Bryan Reynolds has filled in brilliantly for the Pirates in his absence, which began April 4 when Dickerson suffered a right shoulder strain.
Taking over the left field position, Reynolds is slashing .319/.373/.564 in 30 games and 102 plate appearances.
HUNTER'S VIEW
McRae's greatly reduced WHIP with the Indianapolis Indians is encouraging, but it's important to keep in mind he had a near-identical WHIP — 1.376 — with the Altoona Curve before being called up last season. After being sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis last season, McRae's WHIP rose to 1.573, so there is some real progress this year on that front.
Still, there's nothing to get too excited about here until he proves otherwise on the mound.
Don't worry about Dickerson, either. That's a paper move to make space, as Dickerson has already served nearly 60 days on the IL.
