Pirates/MLB category, Page 235

The marquee storyline(s) of the NL East and West divisions differ now than from when spring training began. A pair of $300 million-plus contracts sure can change things. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres might or might not be great teams this season, but many eyes will be on...

It might seem as if the Chicago Cubs have been dominating the NL Central in recent years, but is it really a dynasty when they’ve won the division just twice? The Cubs have averaged 97 wins per season over the past four years but twice had to settle for wild...

Jordan Lyles possibly locked up the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation in his final start of spring training. Lyles allowed seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks as the Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3, on Saturday in a split-squad Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have committed to outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano making their Opening Day roster. Saturday was the deadline for the Pirates to make that decision, per the retention bonus protocol. The 34-year-old Cabrera, a career .280 hitter, is expected to serve as their fourth outfielder....

Jung Ho Kang went 2 for 3 with a double while starting at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kang also registered a pair of put-outs along with a fielder’s choice, but what he didn’t do was hit a home run on a day the Pirates could have used one. The...

The big news of the day for Jung Ho Kang was that he got a double — his first hit that wasn’t a home run. Then Kang hit a walk-off grand slam to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in a Grapefruit League game...

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a comeback victory thanks to a pair of minor-league call-ups and a backup. Zack Kone started a two-out rally in the top of the ninth, the Pirates tied the score on Logan Hill’s RBI single and Colin Moran’s single to center clinched a 6-5 victory over...

The Pittsburgh Pirates had to pitch their way out of jams to start and finish their game against the Detroit Tigers. Starling Marte hit into a run-scoring double play and scored a run to lead the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a Grapefruit League game...

Thanks to an off-day, this week’s “Madden Monday” comes on a Tuesday. We get into: • Josh Harris’ accusation that Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose against the Bengals. Why is this information just coming out now? • Le’Veon Bell’s failed contract. The spin continues! LISTEN: Mark Madden, Tim Benz discuss...

Nick Kingham did his best to put his stamp on the search for a fifth starter, pitching five scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kingham retired the first 11 batters he faced and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored off...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made some predictable moves Monday by naming shortstop Erik Gonzalez and third baseman Jung Ho Kang starters over Kevin Newman and Colin Moran. That the decisions came down to defense is the obvious reaction, as Gonzalez and Kang provide more experience and better range on the left...

The Pittsburgh Pirates named Erik Gonzalez and Jung Ho Kang their starters at shortstop and third base, respectively, general manager Neal Huntington told reporters on Monday. Gonzalez was competing with Kevin Newman, a former first-round pick. Kang beat out incumbent Colin Moran, whose range was an issue last season and...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made their third round of spring training cuts on Monday, reducing their roster to 40 players. Second baseman Kevin Kramer was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was one of eight players reassigned to minor-league camp. Hayes, ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by...

The Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled a lineup that might be a preview for Opening Day, and their ace looked like he was ready. Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who will start the opener on March 28 at Cincinnati, allowed four hits while striking out six without a walk in five innings as the...

After parting ways with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Josh Harrison did damage against them for the Detroit Tigers. Batting leadoff, Harrison scored two runs and drove in another to lead the Tigers to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game in Lakeland, Fla. The...

Jung Ho Kang hit his fifth homer of the spring as the Pittsburgh Pirates tied the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-6, in a spring training game Friday in Bradenton, Fla. Starling Marte homered for the second straight game, and Josh Bell and Francisco Cervelli each hit their second homers of the...

Five Pittsburgh Pirates hit home runs off the Philadelphia Phillies to snap a six-game skid in the Grapefruit League with a 11-2 victory Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. Trevor Williams allowed three hits and an unearned run but had four strikeouts with no walks in five innings. The...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to win 77.5 games and face 125-1 odds of winning the World Series this season, according to oddsmakers at SportsBettingDime.com. The site also projected the Houston Astros are 7-1 favorites to win the World Series, followed by the New York Yankees (8-1), Los Angeles Dodgers...

Jameson Taillon made his Grapefruit League debut, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking none in four innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Minnesota Twins, however, used a five-run ninth inning to cruise to a 10-4 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday at LECOM Park in...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made their second round of spring training cuts Tuesday, reducing their roster to 49 players. Shortstop Cole Tucker, outfielder Jason Martin and right-handed pitchers Jesus Liranzo and Aaron Slegers were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and right-hander Alex McRae was reassigned to minor-league camp. Tucker batted .389 with...

The Atlanta Braves knocked Nick Kingham around Monday by scoring five runs on six hits and four walks in a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday in a Grapefruit League game in Orlando. Kingham got rocked in the first inning, allowing Ender Inciarte to hit a leadoff double followed...

Chris Archer had another strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, allowing only a pair of singles while striking out four batters with no walks in three innings against the New York Yankees. The Yankees won 6-5 in Grapefriut League action. Archer struck out Greg Bird with two runners...

Pittsburgh Pirates pitching couldn’t solve the Minnesota Twins’ hitters Saturday in a 10-1 loss in Bradenton, Fla. Starter Clay Holmes allowed three hits and three runs — two earned — in three innings, and reliever Keone Kela had a horrific inning in the fifth, giving up four hits and four...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first roster cut of spring training Saturday when they optioned their No. 1 prospect, pitcher Mitch Keller, to Triple-A Indianapolis. Keller, a 22-year-old right-hander who is ranked the No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline, allowed 10 runs (all earned) on 10 hits, including three home...

Former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Esteban Loaiza was sentenced in federal court in San Diego to three years in prison for drug trafficking on charges involving about 44 pounds of cocaine, federal prosecutors said. In a plea agreement in U.S. District Court, Loaiza, 47, of Imperial Beach, Calif., admitted he took...