The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that rookie pitcher Jared Jones has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain, following his performance in a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals.

Jones, 22, has been an integral part of the Pirates' pitching rotation, posting a 5-6 record with a 3.56 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 91 innings. However, the team has been closely monitoring his workload in recent weeks, even skipping his return in the rotation last week in an effort to give him a much-needed rest.

During the game against St. Louis, Jones reported feeling discomfort in his right side. Despite downplaying the severity of the injury initially, Pirates manager Derek Shelton expressed a more cautious tone the following day, stating that the team is still evaluating the extent of the injury.

"I think everyone knows what he means to us and where we're at, so, out of precaution, he's still being evaluated," said Shelton.

While Jones showcased his talent by allowing just one run in five innings against the Cardinals, it was noted that he did not reach a speed of 100 mph, which is unusual for him during his 16 starts.

As a result of being placed on the injured list, Jones will be out of action until after the All-Star break. In the meantime, the Pirates have promoted outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill Jones' spot on the roster. Palacios has had an impressive performance in the minors this season, boasting a .311 batting average with five doubles and a home run in 21 games.

In Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Palacios made his appearance as a pinch hitter and drew a walk. The Pirates will rely on Palacios to contribute offensively while they wait for Jones to recover.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will now have to navigate their pitching rotation without the talented rookie for the foreseeable future. The team remains hopeful that Jones will make a quick recovery and return to the mound at full strength.