Kuhl (forearm) to be shut down for 4 weeks

PITTSBURGH -- Right-hander Chad Kuhl will be shut down for four weeks after receiving a second opinion that confirmed the Pirates' initial diagnosis of Kuhl's right forearm/elbow injury.
Kuhl is on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm strain, which he sustained during his June 26 start at Citi Field. The Pirates' medical staff evaluated Kuhl then requested a second opinion from Dr. David Altchek in New York. Both doctors recommended that Kuhl be treated with "conservative management," not surgery, according to Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk.
Kuhl will not throw for four weeks, then the Pirates will reassess his status and, if all goes well, have him begin a throwing program. So the Bucs will be without Kuhl for more than a month, which means right-hander Nick Kingham should remain in their rotation for the time being.
Kuhl, 25, was Pittsburgh's best starter from early May through mid-June, posting a 2.89 ERA over eight starts. He struggled his past two times out, allowing 10 runs in six innings as his ERA climbed to 4.55 on the year.
"You put in all the work in the offseason and throughout the season to prepare and to put yourself in the best possible situation to go start to finish, and being able to do that last year then have this flare up this year, it's kind of upsetting," Kuhl said last week.
Trainer's room
• Infielder Jung Ho Kang, currently on the disabled list with Triple-A Indianapolis due to a sprained left wrist, will be re-evaluated next week in Pittsburgh. Kang remains shut down from baseball activities, Tomczyk said.
• Veteran super-utility man Sean Rodríguez (right quad strain) should have his rehab assignment transferred back from Class A Advanced Bradenton to Triple-A at the end of Indianapolis' All-Star break later this week, Tomczyk said.

• Right-hander A.J. Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) should begin throwing simulated games in about a week, Tomczyk said. At that point, the Pirates will have a better understanding of when he might be ready to return to game action. Schugel, who has not pitched for the Bucs this season, would need a Minor League rehab assignment before he could join the big league bullpen.
• Right-hander Nick Burdi, a Rule 5 Draft pick nearing the end of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, could begin a Minor League rehab assignment over the next few weeks. Burdi has been rehabbing all season at the Pirates' Spring Training complex in Bradenton, Fla., most recently working through a progression of simulated games.
• Triple-A infielder/outfielder Chris Bostick had an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago, Tomczyk said, and should return to action within the next 10 days after recently resuming baseball activities.
• Veteran outfielder Daniel Nava, signed to a Minor League deal in Spring Training, is still not able to participate in baseball activities after undergoing back surgery in February. Nava will soon return home to Arizona to continue his rehab, Tomczyk said.
Around the horn
• Catcher Francisco Cervelli fielded ground balls during the Pirates' early work period on Tuesday. Cervelli said he was instructed to get in some work at first base, where he has previously made one start for the Pirates (in 2016) and five for the Yankees (in '14).
• Outfielder Jordan Luplow made his first start of the season on Wednesday, playing left field and batting seventh against Nationals left-hander Gio González. Rookie Austin Meadows, batting .253 with a .594 OPS over the past 30 days, came off the bench on Monday and Tuesday but has not started since Sunday.