Moving from Houston to Pittsburgh, from the American League to the National League, was plenty for right-hander Joe Musgrove. Then came a right shoulder strain that lingered from spring training into the season.
On Friday, Musgrove will make his Pirates and 2018 major league debut in a series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park after something of a grand tour de rehab: starts in an 18-day span in Bradenton, Fla., Altoona, Pa., Indianapolis and Durham, N.C., with trips to join the Pirates between.
Musgrove, 25, the key return when Pittsburgh traded Gerrit Cole to Houston in the offseason, finally is off the disabled list and with the Pirates for what he hopes is the balance of the season.