Bucs rookie hurler Jones goes on injured list with lat strain

PITTSBURGH -- A day after being removed after five innings and 78 pitches for what was deemed at the time a minor lat strain, Pirates rookie sensation Jared Jones was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday before the club's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals in 10 innings at PNC Park. Outfielder Joshua Palacios was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

On Friday, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Jones was diagnosed with a Grade 2 two lat strain and will not throw for about two weeks. At that point, he will be reevaluated by the club.

? Palacios bringing positivity to Bucs after injuries, slow start to '24

Jones, who was skipped in the rotation in his previous start in an effort to hold his innings count down, allowed just one run in his five frames during the Pirates' 5-4 victory over the Cardinals. Jones said he wasn’t concerned about the severity of a potential injury postgame, saying it would have been “really stupid” to keep pitching, but he could have if necessary.

"We're still re-evaluating where he's at," said Shelton after Thursday's game. "I think everyone knows what he means to us and where we're at, so, out of precaution he's still being evaluated. I think we'll probably have more information in the next day or two."

Jones, who has formulated an electric rookie tandem with Paul Skenes in the Bucs rotation, has gone 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 starts. He has 98 strikeouts to just 27 walks in 91 innings this season. Jones has allowed more than three runs just twice this season, and one of those starts came at Coors Field.

Palacios, who hit .239 with 10 homers in 91 games for the Pirates in 2023, has hit .298 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 30 games across three Minor League levels this season.