It's been a rough stretch for Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Devenski, and things just took another turn for the worse. The veteran right-hander, already serving a suspension for an on-field incident, has now been placed on the 15-day injured list due to an undisclosed illness.

The Pirates made the announcement on Thursday, adding that right-hander Cam Sanders has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Devenski's spot on the roster. It's a tough break for a pitcher who was eligible to return from his suspension just in time for Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Devenski's troubles began during Pittsburgh's 17-7 blowout win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Major League Baseball determined that the 35-year-old intentionally threw at Reds rookie Sal Stewart, resulting in an initial three-game suspension that was later reduced to two contests. Pirates manager Don Kelly also received a one-game suspension for his role in the incident, along with an undisclosed fine for Devenski.

Signed by the Pirates in January, Devenski was called up to the big league club on April 29. The one-time All-Star has made three relief appearances this season, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings of work.

For a Pirates team looking to build momentum, losing a veteran arm—even temporarily—adds another layer of challenge. But with Sanders getting the call, the bullpen will have fresh legs as Pittsburgh continues its homestand.