After his perfect debut, Max Kranick sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis

Jerry DiPaola, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
·2 min read
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Jun. 28—Max Mania barely lasted 24 hours.

About 20 minutes after Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday he and general manager Ben Cherington were "working through" Max Kranick's immediate future, he was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Kranick's perfect record — 1-0, 0.00 ERA and 0.000 WHIP in his major-league debut Sunday in St. Louis — remains intact while the Pirates haven't revealed their plans for a sixth starter. The possibility exists that Kranick could be recalled, although the Pirates must wait at least 15 days to do so.

Cherington said Sunday that the team will use a six-man rotation through the All-Star break. After Tyler Anderson, Chase De Jong and Chad Kuhl face the Colorado Rockies through Wednesday, that leaves J.T. Brubaker and Will Crowe for the rotation. The identity of the sixth starter remains a mystery.

Steven Brault (left lat strain) and Trevor Cahill (left calf strain) remain on the injured list while Mitch Keller is still in Indianapolis trying to regain his command.

Indianapolis pitcher Miguel Yajure, who has made two starts for the Pirates on April 21 and May 14, is on the Indians' 60-day injury list with a sore forearm.

Cody Ponce was recalled to take Kranick's spot on the roster. He started one game for the Pirates this season, allowing nine hits (two homers) and four runs in five innings in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Shelton said he likes the six-man rotation because it reduces the workload on the starters and gives opportunities to others.

He is mindful that the Pirates played only 60 games last season and already had played 76 before Monday's game against the Rockies.

"I think the six-man is good for us, especially going into the All-Star break, with the fact that we're getting towards workload levels because of the 60-game season," he said. "So, we need to keep guys fresh.

"It will provide the opportunity for us to get looks at guys like we did with Kranick and like we've done with Yajure and with other people."

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@triblive.com or via Twitter .