PITTSBURGH — David Bednar was placed on the injured list by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday with a strained left oblique muscle.
The 29-year-old closer went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 20, after being unavailable to pitch the ninth inning of a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The issue is expected to be minor, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday during a weekly radio appearance.
“He’s got some left side tightness that he felt during his throwing program,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said after the game Saturday. “And a situation like that, (I) was not going to risk it. Was going to give him a day. We went into the game knowing that he was unavailable.”
Bednar (3-3, 5.17 ERA) has 16 saves, tied with Craig Kimbrel of the Baltimore Orioles for eighth most in the majors entering Sunday. The two-time All-Star has allowed five runs in 21 1/3 innings across 22 games since May 1 after allowing 14 in 10 innings over his first 12 appearances this season.
Left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. Bruihl signed with Pittsburgh as a major league free agent on June 6, giving up four runs in six appearances before being optioned to Indianapolis on June 17.