DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Pirates' opening day rotation picture may have become clearer.
On Monday, the club announced left-hander Steven Brault has been shut down from throwing due to a left shoulder muscle strain. The Pirates will re-assess his shoulder in two weeks to determine a throwing program.
He will remain with the team during his rehab.
He did not make the trip to Dunedin for the Pirates road game against the Blue Jays, so he was not available for comment.
Brault came into spring training in the mix for a rotation job after a mostly positive campaign in 2019, though his final season stats may not reflect it. He finished 4-6 with a 5.16 ERA over 113.1 IP and was worth 1.3 WAR.
He pitched 2.1 innings over two appearances so far this spring. Pirates spring training ends Mar. 24, meaning Brault will miss at least most of their exhibition games before the regular season.
Brault missed over a month of last season with a left shoulder strain.
Between the injuries to Brault and Clay Holmes, who fractured his right foot Saturday in Fort Myers, the field of candidates for the Pirates' open rotation spot, or spots, has narrowed dramatically over the past few days. Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams were virtually guaranteed rotation jobs, and top pitching prospect Mitch Keller will very likely earn one as well.
Also in the mix were Derek Holland, who signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates just before camp, and possibly Chad Kuhl, who is returning from Tommy John surgery. Kuhl has not been given official word that he will be considered a starting option.
