"The Pirates placed outfielder Ryan Ludwick on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 23, on Wednesday with mid-back muscle spasms.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Ludwick's back first locked up on him Tuesday and he was unavailable for that night's game. Then, with shortstop Pedro Ciriaco at the Pittsburgh airport ready to travel to rejoin Triple-A Indianapolis, Ludwick's back seized up on him again Wednesday morning. Ciriaco returned to the ballpark, and Ludwick had an MRI and was placed on the DL.

» There are about a dozen players in consideration for September call-ups, Hurdle said, and he'd like to keep the roster total to about 35. While he didn't want to get into a guessing game to identify candidates, Hurdle did say Indianapolis first baseman Matt Hague (.314, 12 homers, 70 RBI) is in the mix.

Hurdle also said Wednesday that both outfielder Alex Presley (left hand contusion) and infielder Chase d'Arnaud (fractured right pinkie) were probably ready to come off the disabled list and back from Triple-A, but that with the pitching upheaval of late, he hasn't had room for them on the roster."