PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Thoughts at the time that Derek Shelton pulled Jared Jones after five innings on Wednesday to keep his pitch count low, but it turns out there is an injury concern with the Pirates rookie right-hander.
“He’s got a little right lat strain going on so we decided to get him out,” Shelton said. “Just an abundance of caution right there.”
“Kind of felt it later in the game,” Jones said postgame. “Kind of just got really tight on me in the fifth inning there. Told them and here we are.”
Jones said ‘it would have been really stupid’ to stay in the game, but noted he could have remained if needed. Asked if there is concern going forward.
“No, I feel great,” Jones said. “Well, obviously not great, but it’s nothing to be concerned with, I don’t think.”
Jones said it was a meeting with catcher Joey Bart that really turned the start around. He said Bart came out after the second walk of the first inning and it helped knock some rust off as he was skipped in his last start to save innings to keep him pitching the entire season.