MILWAUKEE -- Corey Dickerson and Jung Ho Kang are formally back with the Pirates here at Miller Park, and both, Clint Hurdle confirmed, will be activated from the injured list Saturday for the second game of the series with the Brewers.
So, who will go?
That wasn't terribly clear Friday.
Jose Osuna, the utilityman recently recalled on an emergency basis, is the most obvious candidate. He's primarily an outfielder and the Pirates will have a full contingent at that position once Dickerson is activated. Plus, he can be optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis .
Beyond that, with the 25-man roster currently holding 13 pitchers, one of those, maybe Rookie Davis, the Friday starter, appears to be the best bet. Davis wouldn't be able to pitch for a while, and this next rotation slot conveniently lines up with Mitch Keller's next start for Indianapolis. Simple switch.
Or there might be more, should another reliever be needed through the 10-game trip that started here Friday. In that event, another position player would go down, with Cole Tucker being a possibility now that Kevin Newman's stepped up at shortstop.
Head spinning yet?
OK, let's try this in bullet form:
• Dickerson, who struggled immensely in his rehab stint with Indianapolis -- 6 for 33 with a double -- took early batting practice Friday. When he rejoins the lineup, he won't be doing so as an everyday player, from what I've heard. Neither will Gregory Polanco, the other outfielder working back from a shoulder injury. They'll comprise something of a five-man outfield with Starling Marte, Bryan Reynolds and Melky Cabrera.
• To ensure the five-man outfield works, and to ensure Marte doesn't wear down -- he started 26 of 27 games before being rested Friday -- Reynolds will see more time in center. That began Friday, and it didn't seem to bother Reynolds in the slightest:
• Marte isn't injured, by the way, as I confirmed with the player. As Clint Hurdle described, "He's been out there for us a ton. He's getting a break."
• Similarly, Kang and Colin Moran can share at-bats at third base. Kang fared far better than Dickerson in his rehab stint with Indianapolis, going 12 for 27 with a home run and three doubles, but Moran has heated up at the top level, going 10 for 29 recently, with four home runs. It's been a long time since that position was a good problem.
• The pitching will keep getting patched together on a daily basis.
There. How's that?
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