30 Jeanmar Gomez, RP

Pirates starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez placed his calf issues aside as he made the start Friday night against the Astros.

Gomez, who made his fifth start of the season, surrendered a solo home run to Matt Dominguez in the fifth. The right-hander was charged with four runs -- three earned -- and five hits over 4 2/4 innings of work. He walked two and struck out one as he settled for a no-decision.

Gomez is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against the Cubs. He surrendered four runs over 14 1/3 innings of work.

Pirates starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez is set to take the mound Friday against the Astros, and he calf tightness that plagued him in his previous start is not an issue, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Gomez has started three games in a row since moving into the rotation, and has allowed just three earned runs on eight hits in 14 innings of work. He has not gone more than five inning in any start, and the team seems OK with that out of him for now.

"Jeanmar's still spinning out of that fifth spot because he performed admirably as well as a long man, a pure long man, a few times," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's given us what we need there as a five-inning guy, basically."

Gomez is expected to remain in the rotation at least until Charlie Morton can retrun from the disabled list, which is not expected to occur until June 5.

"We'll see where it takes us," Hurdle said. "We'll keep our eyes on what's down below as well."

Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez was forced to leave Sunday's game after five innings with left calf tightness, the club announced.

Gomez allowed a run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in his five innings. It's unlikely his injury will keep him out for an extended period.

Pirates pitcher Jeanmar Gomez, who was thrust into a start Tuesday against the Mariners after James McDonald (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list, will start again Sunday against the Mets, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Gomez, who tossed five shutout innings Tuesday, is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and .182 opponents' batting average in two starts this season.

Pirates pitcher Jeanmar Gomez pitched five shutout innings while making a surprise spot start Tuesday against the Mariners. Gomez, who didn't find out he would be starting in place of the injured James McDonald until about 90 minutes prior to the first pitch, limited Seattle to two hits.

He was pulled after throwing 66 pitches -- 41 strikes -- and finished with two walks and five strikeouts, while improving to 2-0 with 2.38 ERA.

Gomez made the roster as a long reliever but has made two straight starts for the Pirates. With McDonald on the 15-day disabled list, the right-hander is tentatively scheduled to face the Mets Sunday in New York.