ST. LOUIS -- Another rainout -- the sixth of the year for the Pirates -- forced manager Lloyd McClendon to reconfigure his pitching rotation once again Tuesday. This time, he did it with a purpose in mind and not just out of necessity.
The game against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed because of heavy rain. It will be made up in August as part of a doubleheader. The date and time will be released by the Cardinals today.
The unexpected day off allows McClendon to delay his need for a sixth starter until Sunday. It also keeps Ryan Vogelsong from pitching against the Chicago Cubs and Josh Fogg from facing the Cardinals in upcoming series.
Vogelsong has allowed 15 runs in eight innings this year in two starts against the Cubs. Fogg is 1-5 with a 10.31 ERA in seven career starts against the Cardinals.
"This gives us what we think are better matchups within our division for right now," McClendon said. "If we win, hey, it worked. If we don't, it didn't make a difference. But we're trying to give ourselves an opportunity to match up with these guys."
Kris Benson and Vogelsong will start in this abbreviated two-game set with the Cardinals against Jason Marquis and Jeff Suppan, respectively. Starting in the doubleheader Friday against the Cubs will be Oliver Perez, who was supposed to start today, and Kip Wells. Fogg will pitch Saturday.
The starter for the final game of the Cubs series this weekend remains undecided. Until the rainout yesterday, the Pirates were thinking about calling up Sean Burnett from Class AAA Nashville to pitch Friday. Since a sixth starter isn't needed until Sunday, the Pirates might go a different route rather than have Burnett pitch eight days after his previous start.
Bautista coming back?
The Pirates could be on the verge of getting back a third player lost in the Rule 5 draft. Third baseman Jose Bautista was designated for assignment yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles, the team that drafted him in December. General manager Dave Littlefield wouldn't comment on whether he's had discussions with the Orioles about re-acquiring Bautista.
The Orioles have 10 days to trade, release or outright Bautista to the minors. He would be offered back to the Pirates only if he cleared waivers within that 10-day span. The Pirates would have to pay half of the $50,000 drafting fee to re-acquire Bautista, who had only 11 at-bats in 16 games he played with the Orioles.
Two of the five players lost in the draft (Frank Brooks and Rich Thompson) already have been returned to the Pirates, and they also could get Chris Shelton back from the Detroit Tigers.
Revolving hot corner
Bobby Hill was scheduled to make his second career start at third base last night until the game was rained out. Hill likely won't start today against Marquis, a left-hander.
At Nashville, outfielder Luke Allen recently has been getting some work at third base because of injuries. Allen, a left-handed hitter, is batting .266 with eight homers and 14 RBI. He hadn't played third base since July 2000 when he was at Class AA San Antonio with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Crudale joins Curve
Mike Crudale, a 27-year-old right-hander, was signed to a minor-league deal Monday and assigned to Class AA Altoona yesterday. He was on the Milwaukee Brewers' 40-man roster heading into spring training and pitched for the San Francisco Giants' top farm team in Fresno before being released April 22.
Crudale has pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and Brewers the past two seasons, compiling a 2.09 ERA in 71 games.
He replaces Bobby Bradley, who was placed on the disabled list with right scapula tightness.
Stewart shut down
Left-hander Cory Stewart, acquired in the Brian Giles trade, was scratched from his start at Nashville last night because of a left intercostals strain. Justin Reid started in Stewart's place. Stewart is 4-1 with a 4.15 ERA in seven starts.
Medical watch
Outfielder Ruben Mateo wore a mesh protecting covering on his injured left hand. He was cleared to take limited batting practice and was available in an emergency situation, McClendon said. ... First baseman Randall Simon is batting .232 with no homer and one RBI in 56 at-bats after 15 games of his rehab assignment at Nashville. Simon's rehab assignment ends Friday, and the Pirates must activate him from the disabled list at that time. ... Outfielder J.J. Davis remained in Pittsburgh to receive treatment on his injured right pinky finger. No timetable has been set for Davis beginning a rehab assignment with Nashville.
