Pirates/MLB category, Page 261
Once cleared from concussion, Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli could do rehab assignment
As Francisco Cervelli awaits clearances to return from his sixth documented concussion, he made it clear playing catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates remains his preference. Cervelli has been out since May 26 after Joc Pederson’s broken bat hit him in the mask against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It marked the...
Pirates’ Jameson Taillon hopes to throw on flat ground during road trip
Jameson Taillon, who hasn’t pitched in a game or even picked up a baseball to throw it since May 1, said Sunday he plans to start an off-to-the-side throwing program, maybe as soon as the upcoming road trip. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be in Houston and Milwaukee, starting Tuesday through...
Pirates win 3rd straight behind Chris Archer’s latest strong start
Chris Archer still isn’t producing like the top-of-the-rotation starter the Pittsburgh Pirates hoped for when they surrendered a bounty to acquire him late last summer. But at least the Pirates finally are consistently competitive in games the veteran starts. Archer was solid — if a little inefficient — over five...
Clint Hurdle supportive of Pirates’ Josh Bell taking part in Home Run Derby
There’s undercurrent of fans and others within baseball who believe that participation in an MLB Home Run Derby can undermine a player’s performance the remainder of that season. Do not count Clint Hurdle among that group’s school of thought. At all. “People say, ‘Oooh, the season the guys have had...
Rookie OF Jason Martin recalled, back for second stint with Pirates
Jason Martin is back for his second stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. The rookie outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday as the corresponding move when the Pirates placed Gregory Polanco on the injured list. With his speed and strong defensive reputation, Martin has a skillset that...
Pirates place Gregory Polanco on injured list with inflammation in surgically-repaired shoulder
After having only five at bats over the prior eight days, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of posterior left shoulder inflammation. Polanco had surgery on that shoulder nine months ago after he had suffered a dislocation in it during an awkward...
Pirates minor league report for June 21, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-33) defeated Pawtucket (Red Sox), 4-3. The Indians outhit the Red Sox, 14-4, with five Indians recording two or more hits. SS Cole Tucker (.320) finished 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and a run. 2B Nick Franklin (.192) went 2 for 4 with an RBI double....
Joe Musgrove leads Pirates to ‘Strange’ win over Padres
The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres entered Friday night’s game with the two worst team ERAs in the majors in June. So, of course, they engaged in a pitcher’s duel. Jose Osuna drove in pinch runner Steven Brault for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Pirates...
Pirates’ Josh Bell advances in voting to be All-Star starter
He leads the majors in extra-base hits, ranks fourth in the National League in slugging percentage and set a Pittsburgh Pirates record for most home runs before the All-star break by a switch hitter. It’s only natural, then, Josh Bell would be a prime candidate to take part in MLB’s...
Former Pirates star Jason Bay back at PNC Park
During the unofficial Dark Ages of modern Pittsburgh Pirates, arguably the best player to never play for a winning Pirates team during their 20-season streak of losing records was Jason Bay. And Bay was back at PNC Park on Friday. A recent inductee into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,...
Slumping Gregory Polanco again absent from Pirates lineup
Gregory Polanco is slumping. And with an abundance of options in the outfield who are performing at a high level, the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t willing to sit and wait for him to play out of it. Polanco was not in the lineup again Friday for the game against the San...
3 switch hitters — Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds, Melky Cabrera — powering Pirates lineup
After finishing 28th and 20th in the majors in runs the previous two seasons and having the second-fewest runs in MLB prior to May 1, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had one of the better offenses in the National League over the past two months. It almost feels as if the...
Pirates minor league report for June 20, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-33) lost 11-8 to Buffalo (Blue Jays). The Bison scored eight runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead, 10-3. They added another run in the seventh before Indianapolis rallied, scoring five runs in the last two innings to cut the deficit to three. SS Cole Tucker (.305)...
In Bryan Reynolds’ case, injuries likely opened door leading to Pirates
Here are two questions that do not make sense on the surface but are worthy of consideration: Where would the Pittsburgh Pirates be if outfielders Corey Dickerson, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte were not injured at various points this season? What if Marte and shortstop Erik Gonzalez had not collided...
Are Pirates at ‘turning point’ for season? Here are 3 reasons to have hope
Trevor Williams was beaming in the clubhouse late Wednesday evening — and probably more than he ever had been following an outing in which he was charged with seven earned runs. Williams had just watched the Pittsburgh Pirates complete their biggest comeback in almost 11 years, erasing a six-run deficit...
Q&A with Ray Searage: Pirates pitching coach discusses challenges, criticism
Ray Searage was the subject of my column this week for wearing a bull`s-eye for the Bucs. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach has endured a rash of injuries to his starting rotation and bullpen and the criticism that comes with the club losing 20 of 29 games in one span....
U mad, bro?: Readers pop off about Penguins trades, Pirates’ Ray Searage, NFL replay
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” readers pop off about Pirates pitching, defend Jim Rutherford, and attack instant replay. Greg wasn’t a fan of my thoughts on Jim Rutherford’s mixed messages about any more potential trades. A GM isnt being honest with the media and fans..this is a stunning event....in...
Tim Benz: Don’t feel bad for Pirates GM Neal Huntington. He doesn’t.
It wasn’t a conversation we meant to have. It just kind of wound up happening. On a recent edition of the KDKA Sports Showdown, I was on the panel with Rich Walsh (KDKA-TV), Chris Mueller (93.7 The Fan), and Will Graves (Associated Press). And an overarching discussion about the Pirates...
Pirates minor league report for June 19, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 37-32) were defeated 6-3 by Buffalo (Blue Jays). RHP Eduardo Vera (3-5, 5.94) gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and nine hits allowed in a losing performance. SS Cole Tucker (.300) went 1 for 4 with a RBI. Tucker and CF Jason Martin...
Bryan Reynolds homer caps Pirates’ 6-run, come-from-behind win over Tigers
Wednesday afternoon before his struggling team’s game, manager Clint Hurdle discussed what Trevor Williams’ return meant for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It wasn’t just Williams’ pitching ability the Pirates so desperately needed, Hurdle said. They also would benefit from a much-harder-to-define intangible. Williams’ contagious competitiveness shined through Wednesday in his outing,...
Steven Brault will start Sunday for Pirates, Jordan Lyles will make rehab start that day
Manager Clint Hurdle clarified the short-term future of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation Wednesday, saying Steven Brault will start Sunday’s game, and Jordan Lyles will make a minor league rehab start that day. Lyles has been on the injured list since June 10 because of hamstring tightness. Hurdle said he...
Pirates injury updates: Erik Gonzalez ‘making tremendous progress,’ could play games soon
Erik Gonzalez was eligible to come off the 60-day injured list Wednesday. While that didn’t happen, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop is much closer to being activated than many people thought he would be at this point. Gonzalez has been out since suffering a clavicle fracture in a collision...
Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli (concussion) cleared for all baseball activities, has no symptoms
Francisco Cervelli is back in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse. His return to the active roster might not be far behind. Out since May 26 because of a concussion, Cervelli was cleared last week by neurologist Dr. James Valeriano to “resume all baseball activities,” Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk...
Mitch Keller returns to Triple-A to make room for Trevor Williams
The return of Trevor Williams to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation Wednesday means the end — for now — of Mitch Keller’s time with the team. Williams was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after being out since May 16 with a right side strain. He will start Wednesday against...
First Call: Penguins rivals making moves; ‘He Hate Me’ is safe
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” there’s news about two rivals of the Penguins. “He Hate Me” has been found. And Trevor Williams isn’t the only guy making a comeback Wednesday at PNC Park. What are they up to? The Flyers are making moves. Philadelphia acquired San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun...
