Thursday: Off Day Notes & Ponders; Chad Has TJ Surgery & Lots More

The Pirates may be off, but there’s still some noteworthy stuff going on…

• The Bucs are 77-74 after winning five straight, 11 of 14, and are 77-74 on the campaign. They have 10 games left (assuming the Marlin rainout won’t be played).The weekend ends the home season with three against the Brew Crew, then the year closes out with four matches at Wrigley v the Cubs and three to end the year at GABP v the Reds.
• The Pirates announced that Chad Kuhl underwent right elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John) surgery in New York yesterday afternoon. Typically pitchers return to Major League competition at an estimated 14-to-16 months.

• The Pirates rotation is really stretching out their arms this year, with some career workload highs. Jameson Taillon (30 starts, 170 IP; 2017 – 25 starts, 133-2/3 IP) has been a beast. Trevor Williams (29 starts, 159-2/3IP; 2017 – 25 starts/31 GA, 150-1/3 IP) and Joe Musgrove (19 starts, 115-1/3 IP; 2017 – 15 starts/31 GA, 109-1/3 IP) both added innings at a modest rate. Workhorses Ivan Nova and Chris Archer will actually spin fewer innings this campaign; they both spent a big chunk of time on the DL. Except for Keone Kela, who was injured for part of last season, the bullpen guys are pretty much in good shape with innings.
• Corey Dickerson has been on a tear in the past two weeks. Though he historically fades in the second half, we wonder if he may have come off the DL before his hammy was completely healed. At any rate, it’s good to see him swinging with a little authority again – he has 11 hits, including six doubles, with seven runs and five RBI in the past 10 games.
• Josh Bell is outdoing Corey over that span – in his last 11 games, J-Bell is 16-of-38 (.421) with five doubles, two homers, nine walks/eight K, eight runs scored and five RBI. 
• With 19 home runs and 33 stolen bases, Starling Marte is one homer shy of becoming just the third player in team history with at least 20 home runs and 30 steals in the same season. Barry Bonds accomplished the feat four times (1987, 1990-92) and Andy Van Slyke did it twice (1987-88).

• One off season wildcard – what will the FO do with Jung Ho Kang? His wrist injury really screwed up his progression back to the show and the Pirates ability to evaluate his value, but he is the only upper level player with the potential to add some immediate pop to the big league lineup. He has a $5.5M option for 2019; it’ll be interesting to see if the FO exercises it, tries to work out a less expensive deal, or lets him walk. He’s just starting to swing it again in the Instructional League, so the suits won’t have much eyeballin’ to go on.
• Jeff Bannister may be skating on thin ice at Texas, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.