Worth noting

By Tom Singer and Steven Petrella

July 10, 2013

• Walker was not happy about having to go on the disabled list with his sore right side, but at least he could look on the bright side in having to miss only 10 games while on the 15-day DL because of the four-day All-Star Game break.

Walker anticipates a brief Minor League rehab while the Pirates open second-half play in Cincinnati, and he hopes to rejoin the team for the July 22 opener of a four-game series at Washington.

• Infielder Erich Weiss, the Pirates' 11th-round selection in last month's First-Year Player Draft, has signed his contract and been assigned to Jamestown. The club has come to agreements with 28 of its 41 draftees, including each of the top 20.

• Seven of the Pirates' last eight homers entering Wednesday's game had been solo shots. The exception: Pedro Alvarez's three-run blow July 3 against Philadelphia.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.