The Pirates placed Brubaker (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Brubaker could be facing season-ending surgery for a right elbow injury that he suffered at the tail end of spring training. He had been ticketed for a spot in the Pirates' starting rotation to open the 2023 campaign, but his injury paves the way for Johan Oviedo to enter the season as the No. 5 starter.