ST. LOUIS -- It's been a slow process for a number of injured Pirates through this early part of the season, but Chad Kuhl will be taking a stride forward in his return to the big-league club.
The opening day starter is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Indianapolis while the Class AAA team is in St. Paul on Wednesday. Prior to Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Derek Shelton said that Kuhl will be limited to 45 pitches in his first minor-league outing since 2016.
The 28-year-old right-hander was placed the injured list with right shoulder discomfort since April 22. He's thrown live batting practice and sim games both on the road and at PNC Park in the past couple weeks and will now be eased back into game conditions with a rehab start. Kuhl missed all of 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Kuhl did not have the best jump out of the gate for the Pirates. He struggled to a 6.32 ERA with 16 walks and 14 strikeouts four starts that spanned 15 2/3 total innings. Since his absence, the team has leaned on Wil Crowe to fill that spot in the rotation, and the rookie has fared much better.
Given the short workload, it's fair to expect this won't be Kuhl's only rehab outing.
MORE FROM PREGAME
• There was some more good news on the Pirates' injury front, this time involving Jacob Stallings. The regular backstop is feeling better and available if necessary for Tuesday's game against the Cards.
Stallings took a foul ball off his left quad Sunday that forced him from the game against the Giants in the seventh inning. Having the off-day Monday helped, but Shelton is still starting Michael Perez behind the plate for the opener against the Cardinals to provide Stallings with some extra relief.
"Just felt it was better to give him a little bit of a blow so he can continue to work through the soreness," Shelton said. "He took a pretty good shot."
• Ke'Bryan Hayes is continuing to rehab from his left wrist injury in St. Louis with the team. Shelton said that Hayes is swinging at full speed against a machine and feeling well enough to begin a rehab assignment soon. Ben Cherington said last week that they had some plans for easing Hayes back that did involve getting into some minor league games.
