Howard is day-to-day after recently experienced back spasms, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Howard is currently not throwing, putting his availability for Opening Day in question. The reliever appeared in 54 games with the Pirates in 2021, struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 45 innings while securing 12 holds and blowing his only save opportunity. One silver-lining to the season was that Howard produced an eye-popping 12.0 K/9, improving on a career-best 11.6 K/9 from the year prior.