Pirates/MLB category, Page 268
Kevin Gorman: Pirates can’t afford for Mitch Keller to be a bustVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates want you to believe there was a developmental delay that prevented them from promoting top prospect Mitch Keller to the major leagues until Memorial Day. The Pirates want you to believe that they were waiting for the 23-year-old right-hander to refine a cutter-slider at Triple-A Indianapolis to...
Pirates’ Huntington proposes rule change to help in concussion assessment
Neal Huntington hates to see any of his players injured, but catcher Francisco Cervelli is turning into a special case. “Every single time he takes a ball off the mask, you hold your breath,” the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager said Sunday. Added manager Clint Hurdle: “Unfortunately, in Francisco’s case, it’s...
Oliver Wendell Holmes, father of Clay, pleased to join Pirates’ dad’s trip
Oliver Wendell Holmes was thrilled when his son Clay, a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, called last week to invite him to join the team in Cincinnati for the annual dad’s trip. Yet, he chastised Clay slightly. “I told him, ‘Why didn’t you give me more notice?’ ” he...
Pirates top prospect Mitch Keller will make major-league debut Monday
Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Mitch Keller will make his major-league debut Monday when the right-handed pitcher starts the second game of a doubleheader at the Cincinnati Reds, general manager Neal Huntington announced on his weekly radio show. “We wanted to give him a handful of outings to establish this pitch,...
Pirates place Francisco Cervelli on injured list, recall Jose Osuna, Jacob Stallings
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher Francisco Cervelli on the seven-day concussion injured list Sunday. The 33-year-old Cervelli, who has a history of concussions, was struck in the mask on Joc Pederson’s backswing in the Pirates’ 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night at PNC Park. Cervelli later left...
Jung Ho Kang scheduled for rehab assignment Monday in Indianapolis
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang said his side strain is “completely fine,” and he is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Monday with the team’s Triple-A Indianapolis farm club. Kang has been on the injured list since May 12 and was eligible to return to the Pirates’ roster...
Pirates get to Hyun-Jin Ryu, but Dodgers pound Joe Musgrove in 7-2 L.A. win
The Pittsburgh Pirates hit Hyun-Jin Ryu better, harder and more often than anyone had hit the veteran left-hander this season. Unfortunately for them, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit Joe Musgrove more. The Dodgers pounded seven extra-base hits and 10 hits overall over five innings against Musgrove, and they extended their...
Pirates top prospect Mitch Keller reportedly will make MLB debut Monday
Top Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Mitch Keller will make his major league debut Monday, according to a report from MLB.com. Keller will start one of the Pirates’ two games that day in Cincinnati against the Reds. The Pirates have yet to announce who will start either game. Top #pirates prospect @mkeller11...
Pirates minor league report: May 25, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-19) lost 15-9 at Columbus (Indians). 1B Jose Osuna (.268) went 2 for 5 with a three-run homer, a double and six RBIs. RHP Pedro Vasquez (0-1, 21.60 ERA) went 31/3 innings in relief allowing eight runs on six hits while striking out three and walking three....
After giving Pirates ‘street cred’ 6 years ago, Russell Martin makes return to Pittsburgh
For the first time since the 2014 wild-card game, Russell Martin appeared in a game at PNC Park on Saturday night. Martin was one of the stars on the first Pittsburgh Pirates team to have a winning record or qualify for the postseason in a 21-year span when they took...
Francisco Liriano as an ‘opener?’ He doesn’t want to — and the Pirates agree
Things are so desperate for the Pittsburgh Pirates in regards to the health of their starting rotation they recently used two Triple-A pitchers as “openers” for three games over a span of a week. As luck would have it, the Pirates have a former All-Star starting pitcher in their bullpen,...
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle says injury bug like ‘nothing’ he’s seen before
It was almost four weeks ago an exasperated Clint Hurdle, after looking at his team’s 15-player injured list, suggested perhaps that was just the Pittsburgh Pirates “new normal.” Twenty-eight games and six more players headed to the IL later, the veteran manager of more than 2,500 MLB games suggested he...
Pirates yet to divulge plans for starting rotation
Clint Hurdle confirmed Jordan Lyles would stay on turn in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation and start Tuesday’s game at the Cincinnati Reds. And Chris Archer is starting Sunday’s home series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Beyond that? Hurdle wasn’t saying — at least he wasn’t saying before Saturday’s game....
Pirates add Dovydas Neverauskas, Rookie Davis to bullpen, place Chris Stratton on IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates added two right-handed pitchers to their staff Saturday afternoon. In 78 combined career MLB innings, the pair has a 7.50 ERA. Dovydas Neverauskas was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, and the contract of Rookie Davis was selected from the Triple-A Indians. Neverauskas allowed seven earned runs in 12⁄3...
Pirates and Allegheny Health Network team up for ‘Catch for Cancer’
Bring you glove for some baseball on the field at PNC Park. The annual Catch for Cancer event is from 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 1. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Allegheny Health Network will host a baseball skills workshop with the opportunity to meet Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon and...
Pirates minor league report: May 24, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 26-18) won 3-1 over Columbus (Indians). With the score tied 1-1, 2B Kevin Kramer (.285) drove in two runs on an eighth-inning double. Kramer has 14 doubles and 22 RBIs in 35 games this season. DH Corey Dickerson (.000) went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in...
Pirates’ pitching problems reach desperate stage in 10-2 loss to DodgersVideo
Two things were evident Friday night during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers before a fireworks crowd of 32,388 at PNC Park. • The Dodgers (33-18) are good. • The Pirates (25-23) desperately need starting pitching. Management’s attempt to pull a relief pitcher out of the...
‘On stage’ with Dodgers, David Freese belts grand slam against Pirates
Nine months ago, David Freese wasn’t sure about his future, other than he was sure it didn’t include a fourth season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But there he was Friday night at PNC Park, hammering a grand slam into the right-center bleachers to help his new team, the Los Angeles...
Injuries add up, but Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli insists: ‘I’m a catcher’
Foul balls continue to hit Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli in strange places. But that painful fact and even several concussions in his past haven’t dimmed his enthusiasm for playing the position. “Last two games, I’m getting hit in places normally a catcher doesn’t get hit,” he said before Friday’s...
Pirates ‘opener’ Michael Feliz allows five runs in first inningVideo
Michael Feliz never has started a game in the major leagues before Friday night. He looked like he was unaccustomed to the opportunity. Backed into a corner by injuries to two starters, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle chose Feliz, a struggling relief pitcher, to open the game against the two-time...
Pirates’ Corey Dickerson takes rehab to Triple-A while Reynolds keeps average above .300
Already manned by two .300-plus hitters and everyday players Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco, the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield soon may get a fifth member. Corey Dickerson, who won a Gold Glove and hit .300 for the Pirates last year, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday night for Triple-A...
U mad, bro? Readers angry about Chris Archer, Steelers coverage
You should be mad. Why? Because “U mad, bro” is late this week. And waiting a few extra days seems to have allowed some of your venom to bubble quite a bit. Follow along as readers pop off about Chris Archer and coverage of the Steelers. A few readers didn’t...
Fantasy sports podcast: Chris Archer frustrations, Josh Bell’s bombs, Mitch Keller call-up?
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. There’s a ton of baseball to discuss. I don’t like “the opener” concept. I’ll get Erickson’s opinion, and he’ll tell us the fantasy impact. Significant call-ups across the league are taking place. Pirates farmhand Mitch Keller could be next....
First Call: Possible Phil Kessel landing spot; Pirates scout outfielder; loving Le’Veon Bell
It’s a trade-heavy “First Call” for Friday. The Penguins may be engaged in a potential trade for Phil Kessel. Jets coach Adam Gase is denying ideas he wants to trade Le’Veon Bell. And the Pirates may be interested in acquiring a New York Yankee. Pharewell Phil? Tribune-Review Penguins writer Jonathan...
Pirates minor league report: May 23, 2019
Pirates INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-18) beat Louisville (Reds), 8-7. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (.244) was one of three Indians with a home run. A two-run shot in the third inning was Hayes’ second of the season. Hayes finished with three RBIs. LF Kevin Kramer (.286) also had a two-run homer, and 1B...
