Worth noting

By Tom Singer

August 31, 2013

• Jared Hughes and Andrew Lambo were "optioned" to Double-A Altoona only technically Saturday, to clear roster space for Justin Morneau and righty Stolmy Pimentel. Both will be back in uniform Sunday, as roster limits expand from 25 to 40. However, the moves did make the pair ineligible for postseason play -- except as possible replacements for injured players.

• Newcomers Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau, just like that, were both tied with Andrew McCutchen for second on the Pirates with 74 RBIs, trailing Pedro Alvarez's 86 entering Saturday night's game.

• Jason Grilli's first rehab appearance, a start for Double-A Altoona on Saturday night, went smoothly. The Pirates closer, on the verge of completing his comeback from a July forearm strain, allowed one hit in a scoreless first inning, with one strikeout. Grilli, who worked with a limit of 20 pitches, needed only 13 -- 10 of them for strikes -- to retire the Akron Aeros. If he bounces back positively, Grilli will repeat the one-inning start with the Curve on Monday.

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.