Tony Armas is no lock to remain in the rotation.

For the time being, he is listed as starting Thursday in the finale of the four-game series with the Florida Marlins that opens tonight at PNC Park.

	MINOR LEAGUE REPORT Sunday's results INDIANAPOLIS (21-14) beat Ottawa, 5-3. LHP Michael Tejera (1-0, 6.39) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. RHP Chris Hernandez (0.00) pitched two perfect innings of relief for his first save. C Humberto Cota (.385) went 1 for 3 with two RBIs. SS Brian Bixler (.343) and 1B Yurendell DeCaster (.324) each drew two walks, Bixler going 0 for 1, DeCaster 0 for 2. ALTOONA (17-16) split a doubleheader at Harrisburg, winning, 3-1, and losing, 4-2. In the first game, RHP Luis Munoz (5-0, 2.02) allowed one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven. In the nightcap, LHP Josh Shortslef (0-4, 3.89) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings. For the day, 3B Neil Walker (.259) went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts. CF Andrew McCutchen (.183) went 1 for 6 with a walk and four strikeouts. LYNCHBURG (13-19) beat Winston-Salem, 3-0. RHP Todd Redmond (3-3, 3.79) pitched six shutout innings and allowed four hits. 1B James Boone (.250) went 1 for 4 with a double. HICKORY (15-19) won at Lexington, 3-2. RHP Serguey Linares (0-0, 0.00) allowed two unearned runs and three hits in six innings. RF Jonel Pacheco (.272) hit his ninth home run and went 2 for 5.

But, asked yesterday if it was too soon to ask if Armas will make that start, Pirates manager Jim Tracy replied, "It's too soon."

Asked about Armas' performance in general, he replied, "We want consistency. That's all I'll say."

However those comments are interpreted, whether they portend Armas' outright removal or simply skipping a turn, they could not be taken as an endorsement.

That should come as no surprise, given that Armas' six starts have yielded an 0-3 record, an 8.76 ERA that is highest among National League starters and a .370 opponents' batting average.

The start Saturday, when Armas was chased after 2 1/3 innings and a 5-0 Atlanta lead, might have been his worst: He gave up seven hits and a walk, and -- most eye-popping -- managed to get only two swings and misses from hitters among his 41 pitches.

"The ball just wasn't coming out of his hand," Tracy said, a reference to the lack of explosiveness in Armas' stuff.

Next in line?

If Armas is removed, that would open the door, obviously, for someone else.

General manager Dave Littlefield mentioned three starters who have impressed him at Class AAA Indianapolis: Bryan Bullington, John Van Benschoten and Sean Burnett.

"Those would be the guys who, probably, we would consider," Littlefield said.

He did not single anyone out, but Van Benschoten might be the lead candidate, and not because his 1.82 ERA is barely better than Bullington's similarly golden 1.90. Van Benschoten is on a remarkable roll, with three consecutive victories and one earned run allowed in his past four starts. Bullington's most recent start Thursday was his only subpar one, with five runs and nine hits allowed in five innings.

Each pitcher is in his first full season coming off major arm surgeries, so health is an issue. But the Pirates had several management officials, including director of player development Brian Graham, at Indianapolis in the past week to check on their strength, and all reports were positive.

Littlefield said long reliever Shawn Chacon is also an option.

And the hitting?

Options in Indianapolis to bolster the offense appear negligible: Two of the three players mentioned by Littlefield as having impressed him, shortstop Brian Bixler and center fielder Nyjer Morgan, are in their first Class AAA seasons. And the third, first baseman Yurendell DeCaster, is coming off a poor 2006 that got him removed from the 40-man roster.

"There are a couple of thoughts that we have with Indianapolis that maybe we'll look at, but it's not going to be the answer to our hitting woes," Littlefield said. "Trades are always considered, too, but that's not going to be the answer to our hitting woes. The answer for our hitting woes is for the guys that we have to hit more."

On a separate front: If third baseman Jose Bautista were to miss any appreciable time -- his left ankle was sprained yesterday -- the best bet for a recall might be utilityman Jose Hernandez, a longtime Tracy favorite and bench veteran.

Buried treasure

There are no timetables for the returns of catcher Humberto Cota or reliever John Wasdin from the 15-day disabled list, Littlefield said.

Thirteen members of the Pirates were issued the pink bats Major League Baseball allows to promote breast cancer awareness on Mother's Day. Among the starters, Chris Duffy, Freddy Sanchez, Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson and Bautista used theirs in the game.

More on the Pirates' 13-run output yesterday: It was their largest since beating Milwaukee, 14-3, on May 29, 2006, at PNC Park. ... It was their largest margin of victory since beating the Brewers again, 12-1, the following day. ... Thirteen runs was as many as the Pirates had scored in their previous five games. ... Fifteen of the 18 hits were singles. ... The previous highs for hits was 14, but that came in extra innings. ... They had not topped six runs in any of their first 15 home games.