The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a series of roster adjustments on Tuesday, recalling reliever Khristian Curtis from Triple‑A Indianapolis to bolster the bullpen after veteran Kirby Yates was placed on the 15‑day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, a move retroactive to August 31.
Roster Shifts Shape the Pirates' Late-Season Outlook
Yates, acquired from the Angels at the trade deadline, has compiled a 2.19 earned run average over 13 appearances for Pittsburgh, but the shoulder issue has forced the club to move the transaction back to the start of the month, creating a vacancy in the late‑inning setup.
Curtis, a 22‑year‑old right‑hander who ranks as the organization’s 15th‑best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has already made an immediate impact, delivering eight scoreless innings across his first two MLB outings while allowing just two hits and three walks and striking out five.
His performance places him among an elite group of only four Pirates relievers in the modern era to have tossed at least three consecutive scoreless innings while surrendering two hits or fewer in each of his opening two games.
The transaction also saw veteran Wilber Dotel return from the minors and left‑hander Evan Sisk optioned to Triple‑A, a move that reflects the Pirates’ strategy to balance seasoned arms with fresh talent as the stretch run approaches.
With the club battling for a spot in the National League Central, the addition of Curtis could provide much‑needed depth in the seventh and eighth innings, while Yates’ absence tests the bullpen’s flexibility and depth heading into the final weeks of the season.