The Pirates placed right-handed relievers Kyle Crick and Clay Holmes on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, creating more holes in a bullpen that has struggled in the early part of the season.
In their place, the Pirates have recalled right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb and selected the contract of lefty Miguel Del Pozo. Both pitchers originally started summer camp with the major-league team at PNC Park, but were assigned to the alternate training site in Altoona, Pa. towards the end.
Crick is suffering from a right shoulder, lat muscle strain. He blew the save Monday night, allowing a two-run double to Ryan Braun in the ninth, and was charged with four unearned runs in his first outing on July 25.
His velocity has been down dramatically during the Pirates' exhibitions and in his two outings. Last year, his fastball averaged 95.4 mph and his slider 81.7 mph, per FanGraphs. This year, he has been averaging 91.4 mph on his heater and 77.3 mph on his breaking ball.
Holmes' stint on the injured list, which is for a right forearm strain, is retroactive to July 25. He tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in the season opener, though he did allow an inherited runner to score.
Hartlieb, 26, went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA over 35 innings in his first taste of the majors last year, though he did much better in class AAA.
Del Pozo, 27, tossed 9.2 innings with the Angels last season and allowed 11 earned runs. He signed as a minor-league free agent this offseason.
The Pirates were able to add Del Pozo to the roster because closer Keone Kela does not count against the 40-man since he tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, Derek Shelton did not have any news to report on Kela's status. He has not rejoined the Pirates on the field yet.
