Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole landed on the disabled list again Tuesday because of a sore back.
Cole departed after five shutout innings in his last outing against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday because of soreness in his right lat. He was sore again Monday after throwing in the bullpen and the Pirates decided to shut him down.
Right-hander Brandon Cumpton will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Cole’s start Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“This risk is not worth the reward for this particular start,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The 23-year-old Cole spent most of June on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue. Friday’s outing was his third since he came back.
“It’s very frustrating,” Cole said. “The bullpen just didn’t go well. I wasn’t myself. If you can’t be yourself in a bullpen, how can you do it when you pitch (in a game)? It’s hard enough to get through the Cardinals’ lineup when you’re feeling good.”
In 14 games this season, Cole has a 7-4 record with a 3.78 ERA in 85 2/3 innings with 29 walks and 78 strikeouts.
Cumpton started nine starts earlier this year for the Pirates and posted a 3-2 record with a 4.61 ERA.