Pirates/MLB category, Page 68
Analytics offer useful insight into offensive numbers for Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen has more incentive than most to heavily lean on advanced analytics and all of the information at a player’s fingertips nowadays as the Statcast era reaches a decade of full implementation in MLB. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ designated hitter has navigated through a stretch of sluggish offense over the...
Pirates farm report for May 27, 2024: Jason Delay, Matt Gorski knock in 3 runs apiece in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 24-25) rolled to an 11-3 win over Omaha (Royals). LF Matt Gorski (.275) hit his eighth home run in the past 12 games and ninth of the season. He was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. CF Jack Suwinski (.250) was 1 for 4 with a triple. C...
Rookie right-handers Jared Jones, Paul Skenes shine in spotlight, drawing attention to Pirates
They look like baseball’s odd couple when standing side-by-side at their lockers in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse: Jared Jones has flowing hair, a trimmed beard and appears a shade below his listed 6-foot-1, and Paul Skenes has a cropped cut, distinctive mustache and looks every bit of 6-6, 260 pounds....
Pirates farm report for May 26, 2024: Quinn Priester allows 1 hit in 7 innings, leads Indianapolis to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 23-25) beat Toledo (Tigers), 6-1. 2B Andres Alvarez (.254) hit a leadoff homer and 3B Mike Jarvis (.111) smacked a grand slam in the first inning. Alvarez was 2 for 5. 1B Malcolm Nunez (.269) was 2 for 5. RHP Quinn Priester (2-1, 3.28) allowed one hit and...
Braves dominate Pirates, who lose catcher Joey Bart, pitcher Martin Perez to injuries
The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t lose just a chance to sweep the Atlanta Braves. They lost their starting battery to injuries, as catcher Joey Bart and pitcher Martin Perez were removed early in the game. Where Bart (left thumb) left after the first inning, and Perez (left groin) didn’t return for...
Pirates farm report for May 25, 2024: Domingo German gives up 5 runs in Indy start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-24) lost 6-5 to Toledo (Tigers). RHP Domingo German (6.97), making his second Triple-A start, allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five. LHP Geronimo Franzua (5.61) gave up a run on three hits in 1 2/3...
Mitch Keller delivers quality start despite delays as Pirates beat Braves
Mitch Keller wasn’t watching the clock, but he was ready to warm up the minute it was determined the rain delay that interrupted the fifth inning would allow him to ample time to return to the mound. After a 30-minute break, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star right-hander continued a strong start...
‘Once a Buc, always a Buc’: Pirates turn back time to honor 1979 World Series champions
When Kent Tekulve wore his white Pittsburgh Pirates No. 27 jersey again, it was like he was transported in time. The 77-year-old submariner felt like he was 32 again, swapping stories with his old teammates as the Pirates celebrated the 45th anniversary of their 1979 World Series champions before Saturday’s...
Pirates 3rd baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes ‘relatively pain-free,’ resumes baseball activities
Ke’Bryan Hayes is showing “very encouraging” signs of recovering from the low back inflammation that has kept the Pittsburgh Pirates Gold Glove third baseman on the injured list. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Hayes has resumed all baseball activities, taking ground balls and batting practice before Saturday’s...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Pirates must trade prospects to bolster MLB roster, maximize Paul Skenes’ window
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ window to contend extends as long as they have pitcher Paul Skenes. That’s through somewhere around 2028 or so, whenever owner Bob Nutting mandates trading Skenes to avoid paying him $25 million or whatever via arbitration. There’s no point fantasizing that the Pirates can keep Skenes into...
Pirates farm report for May 24, 2024: Righty Patrick Reilly throws 5 no-hit innings for Greensboro
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-24) managed four hits in a 12-0 blowout loss to Toledo (Tigers). DH Henry Davis (.315) went 1 for 4 with a double. RF Jake Lamb (.341) also went 1 for 4. CF Gilberto Celestino (.283) went 2 for 3. Indianapolis hitters struck out 10 times and walked...
Bailey Falter sharp, Pirates put up 11 in win over Braves
Looking at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation, Bailey Falter is, in a sense, the odd man out. Unlike Mitch Keller, who’s signed long-term, or Martin Perez, a major offseason acquisition, there’s not much of an organizational investment in Falter. Nor does the 27-year-old possess the draft pedigree/potential of rookie phenoms...
‘We feel urgency’: Pirates GM Ben Cherington expects improvement but isn’t ready to panic
That the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t playing up to expectations has been the storyline of the season, one that on Friday afternoon prompted general manager Ben Cherington to give them an “incomplete” grade. Where Cherington touted a starting rotation that has delivered 25 quality starts through the first 51 games, he...
Projected as a strength, Pirates’ bullpen instead continues to struggle
After back-to-back defeats to San Francisco on Wednesday and Thursday at PNC Park in which they coughed up five- and four-run leads, the Pittsburgh Pirates (23-28) are five games under .500. For that, they have largely poor relief outings by the bullpen to thank. Thought during the preseason to be...
Pirates farm report for May 23, 2024: Henry Davis blasts 2 more homers for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-23) hit six home runs on a 10-8 win over Toledo (Tigers). C Henry Davis went 3 for 6 with two solo shots. He has hit six homers in 14 games since being assigned to Triple-A May 3. CF Matt Gorski (.282) went 2 for 5 with his...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes impresses without having his A-level stuff, while Pirates bullpen gets failing grade again
A few days after his six-shutout-inning, 11-strikeout, no-hit performance in Chicago, Paul Skenes said he would do something “cooler” than that in his career. He probably will. I don’t think his start Thursday qualified. But you could say it was cool in a different way. It was cool in the...
‘It’s not fun’: Booed by fans, Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez struggles to end slump
Rowdy Tellez slumped in his swivel chair in front of his locker, decompressing after another depressing performance during which the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman was booed relentlessly again at PNC Park. After going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Thursday’s 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants, which dropped...
Pirates’ bullpen blows another big lead, as Giants rally with 5-run 8th to win series
The San Francisco Giants survived six innings against Paul Skenes and three home runs, including a grand slam by their former first-round pick Joey Bart, before getting to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ weakness. A beleaguered bullpen blew a big lead for the second consecutive game, surrendering five runs in the eighth...
Pirates send outfielder Jack Suwinski to Triple-A, recall lefty reliever Jose Hernandez
Moments before the first pitch of Paul Skenes’ third MLB start in Thursday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates demoted outfielder Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis. In a corresponding transaction, left-handed reliever Jose Hernandez was recalled from the Indians. Suwinski is batting .174 through 49 games...
Paul Skenes on an encore for his Chicago masterpiece: ‘I’m going to do something cooler than that in my career’
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes mesmerized the baseball world with his outing Friday at Wrigley Field. He was spinning a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts before getting pulled after six innings. Pitch No. 100: ????6 innings0 hits11 K's Paul Skenes. Wow. pic.twitter.com/3nDXqJfJ8w— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 17, 2024 Now, Skenes...
U mad, bro?: Readers upset about Pirates ownership, criticism of Steelers, this weekly column
Things are getting better in Pittsburgh sports right now. Jared Jones and Paul Skenes have Pirates fans optimistic. The Steelers are nothing but smiles at OTAs. And Mike Sullivan is such a good coach, he is going to be on the bench for Team USA in the Olympics. What could...
Shorthanded Pirates’ bullpen in need of rest as Paul Skenes prepares to make 3rd MLB start
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has issued a similar version of the same compliment to pitcher Paul Skenes many times over the last year dating to when he was drafted No. 1 overall coming out of LSU. To paraphrase, Skenes doesn’t back down from challenges, no matter what. So...
Pirates blow 5-run lead as Giants rally to tie game in 9th, win in extra innings
When Bryan Reynolds hit a grand slam for a five-run lead in the fourth inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates had the comfort of a cushion only one night after requiring a four-run rally in the ninth to win in extra innings. This time, they reversed roles. The San Francisco Giants chipped...
Pirates farm report for May 22, 2024: Jake Lamb collects 4 hits in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 21-23) lost 8-7 to Toledo (Tigers) in 11 innings. DH Jake Lamb (.350) went 4 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. C Henry Davis (.295) entered as a pinch-hitter in the top of the 10th and delivered an RBI double. 1B Matt Gorski (.277) went...
Pirates add Grant Koch to MLB taxi squad, leave Henry Davis to continue refining swing at Triple-A
When catcher Yasmani Grandal experienced left groin discomfort Wednesday night vs. the San Francisco Giants, leading to his removal from the game before the top of the 10th inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly became thin behind the plate. Joey Bart took over catching duties for extra innings, which turned out...
