Jones (lat) will be activated from the 15-day injured list and start Tuesday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Jones has been sidelined since early July with a Grade 2 right lat strain but is ready to rejoin the Pirates after making three rehab starts with Triple-A Indianapolis. The rookie right-hander's last rehab outing was dominant, as he struck out 10 while yielding just one hit and one walk over five shutout frames. Jones threw 73 pitches in the start, so he could be limited a bit from a workload perspective versus the Cubs.

Jones (lat) struck out 10 and allowed one hit and no walks over five scoreless innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis.

EDGE Analysis

While making the third start of his rehab assignment for Indianapolis, Jones showed that he's likely ready to make his return from the 15-day injured list. The lone hit he allowed on the night was an infield single, and Jones generated 15 swings and misses among his 73 pitches (53 strikes) while throwing a fastball that averaged 97.6 miles per hour, per Jack McMullen of JustBaseball.com. Assuming the Pirates are comfortable with how Jones is feeling physically coming out of the rehab start, he could be activated from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the big-league rotation as soon as Monday's series opener versus the Cubs. Jones has been on the shelf since July 4 with a Grade 2 right lat strain.

Pirates GM Ben Cherington said Sunday that Jones (lat) will make at least one more rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has struggled in his two rehab outings for Triple-A Indianapolis with six earned runs allowed across six innings. Jones encouragingly built up his workload to 67 pitching during his last appearance, but the Pirates might want to see him regain some effectiveness before re-inserting him into the big-league rotation.

Jones (lat) struck out three over 3.1 innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and no walks in his second rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Indianapolis.

EDGE Analysis

While Jones built up to 67 pitches (43 strikes) and looks to be nearly fully stretched out, he hasn't been at his best over his two rehab outings at Triple-A. Between his outings Wednesday and on Aug. 8, Jones has coughed up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with a 6:2 K:BB over six innings. The Pirates haven't provided word on the next step for Jones, but the organization may want to have him make one more tune-up outing with Indianapolis before he makes his return from the 15-day injured list. The rookie has been on the shelf since July 4 with a Grade 2 right lat strain.

Jones (lat) covered 2.2 innings and struck out three while giving up two earned runs on one hit and one walk in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Indianapolis.

EDGE Analysis

Pitching in a game for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list July 4 with a Grade 2 lat strain, Jones tossed 47 pitches (30 strikes) and induced six swings and misses. After walking the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning, Jones then served up a two-run home run, but he retired the final eight hitters he faced before exiting. The 23-year-old righty will likely need one or two more rehab starts before making his return from the 15-day injured list.

Jones (lat) has been sent to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin a rehab assignment, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

His first rehab start, while not yet confirmed, is expected to come Thursday. Jones has missed more than a month of action with a Grade 2 right lat strain, so he'll surely require multiple rehab outings before rejoining the Pirates' rotation. A return before the end of August for the 23-year-old, assuming everything goes well, appears likely.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Jones (lat) is expected to begin a rehab assignment "soon," Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander threw live batting practice Saturday, and he's now on the cusp of being cleared for game action. Jones is likely to require multiple starts in the minors before rejoining Pittsburgh's rotation, and he should be able to return from the 15-day injured list before the end of August if he can avoid any setbacks.

Jones (lat) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

After building up to 38 pitches in bullpen sessions over the past several days, Jones has now been given the green light to face live hitters again. His next steps after Saturday's session remain unclear, but if all goes well, he could be sent to one of Pittsburgh's minor-league affiliates to begin a rehab assignment.The 22-year-old righty has been on the injured list since early July due to a Grade 2 right lat strain.

Jones (lat) threw a 38-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

This marked Jones' second bullpen session since landing on the injured list, and he threw all pitches in his arsenal. He'll throw a live bullpen session during the team's upcoming homestand and could head out for a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.

Jones (lat) threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday and used all four pitches in his arsenal, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jones threw off a mound for the first time since being placed on the IL on July 4 and was able to mix in all four of his pitches while his fastball sat between 93-95 miles per hour -- his usual bullpen velocity. Hiles noted that the right-hander will throw another bullpen during the Pirates' three-game series in Houston that starts Monday and face hitters after the road trip ends Thursday. It's unclear if Jones will require a rehab assignment.