The Pittsburgh Pirates have brought up right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas from Triple-A Indianapolis, replacing fellow right-hander Ryder Ryan, who was optioned after Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Nicolas, who has pitched in nine games for Indianapolis this season, has given up just one run in 10.2 innings. Despite only allowing two hits, he has faced challenges with control, issuing nine walks, while also striking out 13 batters.
The 25-year-old pitcher debuted in the major leagues with the Pirates last year, appearing in four games. His initial outing was tough, allowing six earned runs in just one-third of an inning, but he bounced back and performed solidly in his last three bullpen appearances of the season.
Ryan, who had two separate stints with the Pirates, appeared in nine games. He began the season with a 1-0 record, recording a 3.00 ERA and tallying 13 strikeouts across 12 innings of work.
