X-rays negative on Jared Jones’s elbow

Jones drew the starting assignment for the front-end of Saturday’s doubleheader at Progressive Field and touched triple digits 11 times during an impressive 74-pitch outing where he leaned almost exclusively on his fastball and slider. The lone run against him came on an RBI triple from Travis Bazzana with two outs in the third inning. The Pirates have been cautious with his workload as he returns from Tommy John surgery, but he’s looked outstanding since the start of July, allowing just two runs while compiling a 23/3 K/BB ratio over 15 innings across his last three starts. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues at this point based on his strikeout upside alone.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday where the conditions are expected to be much improved. Expect Friday’s scheduled starters — Gavin Williams and Jared Jones — to pitch at some point on Saturday.

That means the team will push Mitch Keller to next week. It makes sense to use Jones, who is clearly on a pitch count, in the first start after the break because it means the bullpen will be fresh.

Per Opta Stats, Jones became the first pitcher in modern history to throw at least six innings, retire every batter, and still not get the win. He left with the game in a scoreless tie before Dennis Santana served up a two-run homer to former Pirate Joey Bart. Pittsburgh went on to lose 3-0. This was Jones’ first time throwing more than five innings since returning from elbow surgery. He was at 77 pitches when pulled, while his season high is 81. It was his final start of the first half. The Pirates visit the Guardians coming out of the All-Star break.

Jones was pulled at 73 pitches in a tie game, so Don Kelly does not care about our wins column. Jones allowed just three hard-hit balls and touched 100 with his fastball, while he generated 11 whiffs on 31 swings. The lone run scored on an RBI double by Bryce Harper. Everything looks good under the hood for Jones to be a dynamite pitcher down the stretch in fantasy leagues, but it’s hard to trust him on this current pitch count. He’ll draw the Braves in his final start before the All-Star break next week.

Jones surrendered a solo homer to Sal Stewart in the first inning. The Reds brought a second run in on a pair of hits in the third. A walk, double, and a fielding error brought two more runs in to score in the fifth. Jones would depart with two outs in the inning at 81 pitches. He struck out four. The 24-year-old right-hander has completed five innings in just one of six starts so far in his return. He’ll take a 5.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 25/9 K/BB ratio across 25 innings into a start against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Thursday.

There was concern earlier this week whether Jones would be ready to take the ball for his next start after being hit on the back of his throwing elbow by a line drive during last weekend’s start against the Rockies. The 24-year-old former top prospect underwent X-rays that came back negative for any fractures and has been cleared to take the ball at PNC Park on Saturday afternoon.

Mlodzinski was called upon after six strong innings from Braxton Ashcraft and needed just 39 pitches (30 strikes) to record the final nine outs. It certainly helped that he entered the contest with a four-run advantage that eventually ballooned to 10 runs by the final frame.

Imaging came back clean for Jones after he left Sunday’s game when he was hit in the elbow by a line drive in the fifth inning, and Kelly called the results for Jones “encouraging.” Whether the right-hander can make that start will likely be determined by how Jones feels in the coming days, but for now, it does appear he’s avoided a significant injury. If he can’t go Carmen Mlodzinski could get the nod.

Jones was really frustrated after getting hit on the back of the elbow, though he was swinging his arm freely as he left the field. Yohan Ramírez replaced him at the start of the fourth inning.