Capps given break, put on DL

Pirates closer has been put on the disabled list with bursitis and tightness in his left shoulder. The injury is so severe, he will be out up to two months, though no surgery is required.

Capps has been in a major slump of late, blowing five of his last seven saves including two opportunities during this series with Cincinnati.

According to the Associated Press, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a conference call with reporters that Capps doesn’t have enough range of motion in the pitching shoulder. If he continued to pitch on the sore shoulder, Capps could have got a torn labrum which would require major surgery.

“Ninety to 95 percent of pitchers that have this sort of problem, when it’s caught early like this, can go on a rehabilitation program, eliminate the range of motion deficit and go back and pitch healthy and pitch effectively,” Huntington said. “And that’s what we’re anticipating with Matt.”

Despite Capps' struggles, this is a tough blow for the Pirates, who are scrapping and clawing their way to try and stay within range of .500. It's unclear who will step into the closer's role, though Damaso Marte has to be a favorite at least in the short term.