Notes: Bucs reinstate Musgrove, Reynolds

PITTSBURGH -- With Joe Musgrove healthy enough to pitch and Bryan Reynolds ready to return to the team, the Pirates continued their season-long roster shuffle before Wednesday’s game against the Cubs at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh reinstated Musgrove from the 10-day injured list and sent him to the mound to start the second game of the series; it's the Opening Day starter’s first outing since Aug. 4. The Bucs also reinstated Reynolds from the paternity list after he and his wife, Blair, welcomed a son, Reese, earlier this week.

To make room on their active roster, the Pirates optioned corner infielder/outfielder José Osuna to their alternate training site camp in Altoona, Pa. Pittsburgh also designated right-hander Carson Fulmer for assignment, a somewhat surprising move considering the club claimed the former first-round Draft pick off waivers from Detroit just last week. Fulmer did not appear in a game for the Pirates.

Reynolds didn’t immediately return to the starting lineup on Wednesday, as recently claimed outfielder Anthony Alford got the start in left field. Cole Tucker got the nod in center with Gregory Polanco in right, Colin Moran at first base and Josh Bell serving as the designated hitter.

Ke’Bryan Hayes was back in the lineup at third base, with fellow 2015 Draft pick Kevin Newman next to him at shortstop. Adam Frazier, who started the previous three games in left field, returned to second base. That left Erik González and Reynolds on the bench, showing how the Pirates will have to continue to juggle their lineup configurations as they work to evaluate their roster over the final month of the season.

"I think we're still going to provide opportunities for guys with Alford in the mix and Reynolds coming back,” manager Derek Shelton said. “We have to shuffle them a little bit, but I think we are going to see guys get some opportunities to play, so you probably will see a little bit of shuffling."

Trainer’s room
• Closer Keone Kela, out since Aug. 21 due to right forearm inflammation, has been playing catch on flat ground, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said. Kela has also thrown long toss from 120 feet. Tomczyk said the tightness in Kela’s forearm is “slowly going away,” and the club expects he’ll be able to throw a bullpen session later this week.

Kela’s injury prevented the Pirates from dealing him to a contender before the Trade Deadline, but it’s still important for him to get back on the mound. The right-hander will enter free agency for the first time after this season, and he has only made 35 appearances over the last two seasons due to shoulder and forearm injuries and his positive test for COVID-19.

• Right-hander Mitch Keller (strained left oblique) is scheduled to face hitters during two innings of live batting practice on Thursday at PNC Park. The Pirates still hope the rookie starter will make it back to pitch in a Major League game before the end of the season.

• Jameson Taillon, rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, is also slated to throw live BP on Thursday at PNC Park. Later this month, Tomczyk said, Taillon will begin a “ramp-down” process. The Pirates expect Taillon to be ready for the 2021 season, having a normal offseason after he officially completes his rehabilitation.

• Reliever Yacksel Ríos (right shoulder inflammation) has been playing catch on flat ground from 120 feet and should soon progress to throwing bullpen sessions.

• Lefty reliever Austin Davis, acquired last week from the Phillies, was placed on the injured list shortly after he joined the Pirates. Tomczyk said Davis’ placement on the injured list “wasn’t anything orthopedic” but rather related to the COVID-19 intake screening process.

Worth noting
• Hayes’ Major League debut put him in select company -- not just because of what he did on the field, but because of who came before him. Hayes’ father, Charlie, played 128 games for the Pirates in 1996 before being traded to the Yankees on Aug. 30. They became the sixth father-son pairing to play for Pittsburgh.

The others: Tony Armas Sr. (1976) and Tony Armas Jr. (2007); Vernon Law (1950-51, 1954-67) and Vance Law (1980-81); Jim Bagby Sr. (1923) and Jim Bagby Jr. (1947); Clyde Barnhart (1920-28) and Vic Barnhart (1944-46); and Joe Schultz Sr. (1916) and Joe Schultz Jr. (1939-41).

• The Pirates’ 8-7 loss in 11 innings on Tuesday night was their ninth one-run defeat of the season and their fifth in six extra-inning games.