PIRATES SET OPENING DAY ROSTER VS. REDS

Hours before their first game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, the Pirates finalized their Opening Day roster with a slew of moves.

Pittsburgh selected the contracts of non-roster invitees Melky Cabrera, JB Shuck and Francisco Liriano. The Pirates placed the following players on the 10-day injured list: Lonnie Chisenhall (right index finger fracture), Jordan Lyles (right side discomfort), Elias Diaz (virus), Dovydas Neverauskas (left oblique strain), Jose Osuna (lower neck discomfort) and Gregory Polanco (recovering from September shoulder surgery).

To make room on the 40-man roster for the three players they added, the Pirates moved Edgar Santana (Tommy John surgery) to the 60-day injured list and designated right-handers Jake Barrett and Aaron Slegers for assignment.

The Pirates brought 27 players to Cincinnati, giving them time to make two final decisions. They had to determine the health of Chisenhall, who was hit on the hand by a pitch during Monday’s exhibition game in Houston, and they had to determine Lyles’ readiness to be the fifth starter. They brought Shuck as a contingency plan for Chisenhall and Brault as a backup for Lyles.

Here is a full look at the Pirates’ roster to start the season.

CATCHER (2): FRANCISCO CERVELLI, JACOB STALLINGS

What changed? Nothing, at least not in the last few weeks. Diaz is on the injured list, working his way through a modified spring program after missing two weeks of camp due to a virus. That gave Stallings a clear path to the roster and provided the Pirates with extra time to figure out what to do with the out-of-options backstop.

FIRST BASE (1): JOSH BELL

What changed? Nothing. Not only is Bell the first baseman, he’s back in the cleanup spot.

SECOND BASE (1): ADAM FRAZIER

What changed? Nothing. This was and will continue to be Frazier’s job.

THIRD BASE (2): JUNG HO KANG, COLIN MORAN

What changed? The Pirates named Kang the starter, pushing Moran into a corner-infield reserve role. Moran will back up Kang at third and Bell at first while serving as a left-handed bat off the bench.

SHORTSTOP (2): ERIK GONZALEZ, KEVIN NEWMAN

What changed? Pittsburgh picked Gonzalez to start because of his defensive upside and chose to carry Newman as a backup middle infielder. Both were expected to make the team.

OUTFIELD (4): COREY DICKERSON, STARLING MARTE, MELKY CABRERA, JB SHUCK

What changed? Chisenhall’s right index finger was fractured after he was hit by a pitch on Monday in Houston, so he’ll be out until at least May; that means Polanco could return to right field before Chisenhall. Cabrera earned a spot after coming to camp on a Minor League deal. The Pirates opted to break camp with a full bench, giving them room for a backup catcher, two reserve infielders, a dedicated fourth outfielder (Shuck, another non-roster invitee) and a super-utility man.

UTILITY (1): PABLO REYES

What changed? Nothing. Reyes was always the best fit for this role given his defensive versatility and the offensive potential he showed last September, and he kept proving himself throughout Spring Training. He can back up Marte in center, Cabrera in right, Gonzalez at shortstop and just about anyone else on the diamond.

STARTING PITCHER (4): JAMESON TAILLON, TREVOR WILLIAMS, JOE MUSGROVE, CHRIS ARCHER

What changed? Lyles was the favorite to win the final spot in the rotation, but he was set back late in the spring by cramping in his right side. He has not yet thrown six innings or 100 pitches in an outing; presumably, he will be activated when he is ready and the Pirates need a fifth starter.

RELIEF PITCHER (8): FELIPE VAZQUEZ, KEONE KELA, KYLE CRICK, RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, FRANCISCO LIRIANO, NICK BURDI, NICK KINGHAM, STEVEN BRAULT

What changed? It’s no surprise that the Pirates elected to keep Burdi, given his remaining Rule 5 Draft restrictions, and Kingham, who is out of options. They chose Liriano as their lefty middle-relief option, and Brault will provide additional depth and length.

To review, here’s the breakdown of Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster.

CATCHERS

Francisco Cervelli

Jacob Stallings

INFIELDERS

Josh Bell

Adam Frazier

Erik Gonzalez

Jung Ho Kang

Colin Moran

Kevin Newman

OUTFIELDERS

Corey Dickerson

Starling Marte

Melky Cabrera

JB Shuck

UTILITY PLAYERS

Pablo Reyes

STARTING PITCHERS

Jameson Taillon

Trevor Williams

Joe Musgrove

Chris Archer

RELIEF PITCHERS

Felipe Vazquez

Keone Kela

Kyle Crick

Richard Rodriguez

Francisco Liriano

Nick Burdi

Nick Kingham

Steven Brault

INJURED LIST

Lonnie Chisenhall (broken finger, out 4-6 weeks)

Elias Diaz (virus, return TBD)

Jordan Lyles (right side discomfort)

Dovydas Neverauskas (left oblique strain)

Gregory Polanco (September shoulder surgery, return TBD)

Jose Osuna (neck tightness, return TBD)

Chad Kuhl (Tommy John surgery, out for season)

Edgar Santana (Tommy John surgery, out for season)