Walker on DL with possible oblique injury

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates on Tuesday placed second baseman Neil Walker on the 15-day disabled list with right side soreness retroactive to Sunday. The team called up Josh Harrison, who could provide bench help heading into and coming out of the All-Star break.

Manager Clint Hurdle on Tuesday afternoon implied that the second baseman's injury, previously generically placed on his right side, actually involved the oblique.

"We're going to have conversations right up to game time," Hurdle said about three hours before first pitch against Oakland at PNC Park. "We'll make the best decision possible, for now and going forward. We played short [Monday] night, are we going to play short again Wednesday?

"Neil's had some conversations with other guys who've had something like this, trying to get a grip on what's best for the oblique."

Walker, who detected the discomfort in his right side midway through Saturday's game against the Cubs in Chicago, has tried dry swings with the bat, having more difficulty from the left side than from the right.

Harrison was optioned a week ago to Indianapolis but was able to be recalled prior to the routine 10-day waiting period because he was replacing a player on the DL.

In Walker's absence, the Bucs turned to a double-play combination of Clint Barmes and Jordy Mercer for Tuesday's game. Mercer, ordinarily the regular shortstop, made his first start at second base since June 4.