Erik Bedard

Erik Bedard (back) has been scratched from his scheduled Monday start against the Marlins.

Brad Lincoln will pitch in Bedard’s place. This doesn’t come as a major surprise given Bedard’s injury history and the fact that he left last week’s outing against the Cardinals with back spasms. Lincoln can probably be ignored in fantasy leagues.

Erik Bedard reported improvement Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s start during the second inning with back spasms.

It’s too soon to tell if he’ll be able to make his next start, but the Pirate should have a better read on the situation by Friday night. Brad Lincoln, who tossed three innings of relief on Wednesday, would be the most likely replacement if he can’t go.

Erik Bedard left Wednesday’s start during the second inning with back spasms.

Bedard threw a 1-1 pitch to Adam LaRoche and then started twisting and trying to stretch his midsection out. We’ll update his status when more is known, but it’s hard to be optimistic about him given his previous injury issues. Brad Lincoln replaced Bedard on the mound and would be an option to take his spot in the rotation if needed.

Erik Bedard fanned 11 while allowing two runs over five innings in a win over the Cardinals on Thursday.

The Pirates scored a total of three runs in Bedard’s first four starts of the season. Now they’ve scored 10 in the last two, allowing him to pick up his first two victories. He has a 2.65 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Erik Bedard turned in a brilliant performance against the Braves on Saturday, allowing just one run on five hits over five innings while racking up nine strikeouts.

Bedard walked two but truly had Braves hitters off-balance the entire outing. He improves to 1-4 on the season, but with a very respectable 2.48 ERA. The veteran left-hander will hope that the Pirates can again bring him the increased run support when he takes on the defending World Series champs in St. Louis next week.

Erik Bedard pitched seven solid innings in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks.

He struck out seven in falling to an undeserved 0-4. Bedard loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, but escaped allowing only one run, and more or less controlled his next six innings of work. Bedard has now gone seven innings in two of his first four starts, but received a total of three runs of support from the Pirates’ truly abysmal offense. He’ll get the Braves in Atlanta next weekend.

Erik Bedard held the Diamondbacks to two runs and three hits in five innings on Monday night.

Of course, with the way the Pirates are hitting, he fell to 0-3 anyway. Bedard has opened the season with a 2.65 ERA, but the Pirates have scored a total of two runs in his three starts.

Erik Bedard took the loss in Wednesday’s setback against the Dodgers, allowing two runs on eight hits in five innings of work.

He struck out three and issued one free pass, throwing 88 pitches. It’s what should more or less be expected of Bedard each time out, though he’s usually a better bet for six innings than five. Now the owner of a 2.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7/2 K/BB ratio through his first 12 frames, Bedard will get the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Monday.

Erik Bedard held the Phillies to a run over seven innings in a losing cause Thursday.

Bedard was excellent, but there was no run support to be had against Roy Halladay. That’s what Bedard signed up over the winter for when he jumped at the Pirates’ offer rather than see if a contender wanted him.