NEW YORK -- As Pirates reliever Matt Capps walked around the clubhouse before Saturday's game, he noticed a group of six Japanese reporters congregated near his locker.

Capps stopped and smiled.

"You know Kuwata's coming?" he said jokingly.

That number of reporters grew by more than six times within 24 hours.

Masumi Kuwata, whom the Pirates called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday when Salomon Torres was placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation, didn't arrive in New York in time to make it to the stadium on Saturday, but all anyone had to do to find him on Sunday was follow the flashbulbs.

It came as no surprise that there wasn't a seat to be had in the press box at Yankee Stadium on Saturday with Roger Clemens making his season debut. It just wasn't expected that there would be so many members of the media in the Pittsburgh clubhouse this weekend.

"They bring back Clemens, we bring back Kuwata," joked Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson on Saturday. "That's our way to counter. We're countering our press vs. their press. We want to make sure we go on the field balanced."

"Their" press still won out on Saturday, but when Kuwata met with the media prior to Pittsburgh's game on Sunday, there were at least 40 members of the Japanese media present to record every word.

"Pitching in America became a dream of mine when I was 20 years old," said Kuwata, speaking amid the cameras flashing behind him. "I'm very happy to pitch in the Major Leagues, and I'm going to go out there and finally realize my dream. I can't believe that."

When Pirates equipment manager Roger Wilson handed Kuwata a Pirates hat before Sunday's game to make sure it fit, it marked the first time in the team's 121-year history that a Japanese player has worn a Pirates uniform.

Kuwata also had a pleasant surprise when he arrived in the Pirates clubhouse to see a No. 18 jersey hanging in front of his locker. He wore the number while playing for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League for 20 years.

"It was a surprise," said Kuwata, who hadn't been able to wear the number during Spring Training or in Indianapolis. "I am very happy to get No. 18."

Kuwata's arrival in the Major Leagues comes after a two-month rehab on his right ankle, which he sprained near the end of Spring Training. Both he and Pirates manager Jim Tracy, though, don't seem concerned about the ankle being an impediment when Kuwata pitches or fields.

"It's [been] a long time to rehab my ankle; it's been a long road back," said the 39-year-old right-hander. "I need to make my ankle more stable and stronger."

While Tracy isn't sure what Kuwata's long-term role in the bullpen may be, he said that Kuwata, who pitched primarily as a starter with the Giants, will likely be used during the sixth and seventh innings for now.

"We're in a situation in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings where we've struggled and we've got to continue to mix it up and continue to see if we can find some guys who can pitch better," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "We're going to give Kuwata the opportunity."

When Kuwata makes his Major League debut, he will be the oldest player to make his debut since pitcher Diomedes Olivo did so at the age of 41 years, 227 days on Sept. 5, 1960. Coincidentally, Olivo was also a member of the Pirates.

Kuwata pitched 4 1/3 strong innings in three relief appearances for Indianapolis over the past week, allowing three hits and striking out three.

"The one thing I can sit here and feel pretty certain about is that he is going to throw strikes," Tracy said.

And there will be plenty of people there to document it when he does.

Lineup shuffle: Tracy left both Ronny Paulino and Wilson out of the starting lineup on Sunday, deciding to give his catcher and shortstop a day off.

Both Paulino and Wilson had a rough day defensively on Saturday, though Tracy said that his decision to sit the two players had nothing to do with their recent defensive performances.

Paulino had caught each of the Pirates' last six games, prompting Tracy to give his catcher the day off.

"He can't keep catching like that," Tracy explained.

The Pirates catcher had a scheduled day off last Wednesday, but he came into the game in the fifth inning after catcher Ryan Doumit moved to right field when Xavier Nady left the game with tightness in his left hamstring.

Jose Castillo replaced Wilson at shortstop, while Doumit moved behind the plate, giving Nate McLouth the start in right field. Wilson has started 58 of the Pirates' 62 games up to this point.

A game of numbers: Ten: The number of games below .500 the Pirates are after losing the first two games of their series against the Yankees. It marks the furthest below .500 the team has been all season.

5.52: Pittsburgh starters' ERA in the first inning this year going into Sunday's game. Paul Maholm allowed three first-inning runs in Saturday's loss.

Delaney dominant: After wrapping up another First-Year Player Draft on Friday, the Pirates have to be encouraged by the progress made by a player they selected two years ago. Jason Delaney, a 12th-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2005, was recently named to the Carolina League midseason All-Star team.

"He's the most consistent guy we've had all year with his approach, his work ethic," said Class A Lynchburg manager Jeff Branson. "When you have that trust in your coach and in your staff to give you the game plan and trust the approach he's being told, that's why he's being successful, I think."

Whatever Delaney has bought into seems to be working. The outfielder leads the Carolina League with a .353 average and a .432 on-base percentage in addition to his nine home runs and 40 RBIs.

"He's constantly in hitting counts," Branson said. "When you get a hitting count on a consistent basis, you're going to have success."

Bullington leaves early: Indianapolis pitcher Bryan Bullington left his start on Sunday for precautionary measures when he experienced right shoulder discomfort. Bullington, who had surgery on the shoulder last season, lasted only one inning in what was his 14th start of the season.

Bullington had a 9-3 record with a 2.83 ERA in 13 starts going into Sunday's game.

On deck: After Monday's off-day, the Pirates will welcome the Texas Rangers of the American League West to PNC Park for the first game of a three-game set on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Lefty Zach Duke (2-6, 5.75 ERA) will make the start for Pittsburgh against Rangers right-hander Kevin Millwood (2-5, 7.57 ERA).