First Call: Devin Bush in make-or-break season; Pirates rookie makes history; Gerrit Cole flirts with no-hitter

Tuesday’s “First Call” features a warning shot to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush. One of the Pirates new rookies was part of history in Monday night’s win. And ex-Pirate Gerrit Cole nearly spun a no hitter in Tampa Bay.

Time to shine

On Monday, CBS Sports listed Steelers linebacker Devin Bush among its players who are entering a make-or-break season.

Writer Chris Trapasso listed nine players whose careers are tilting one way or the other in 2022. And he put Bush in the “prove-it year” category.

There’s little argument there, as the Steelers refused to pick up the fifth-year option on his first-round draft choice rookie contract. As a result, Bush is a free agent after 2022.

“Bush is one of the most athletically capable linebackers in football. His range at Michigan and 4.43 speed at 5-11 and 234 pounds led to the Steelers trading up to select him at No. 10 overall in the 2019 draft. As an energetic rookie, Bush looked like Pittsburgh’s next elite second-level defender,” Trapasso said. “But over time, his stellar play close to the line of scrimmage and when attacking downhill was counteracted by shoddy coverage, and a torn ACL in Week 6 of 2020 derailed what mostly looked like a promising start to his pro career. Then in 2021, Bush wasn’t himself. He missed more tackles than ever, was hardly a force in the box and the coverage woes continued.”

I wouldn’t say Bush ever got to a “stellar” level in 2020 before his knee injury. But he was definitely getting better after a spotty rookie season.

Now, though, the Steelers need much more.

The other guy

Bligh Madris’ Major League Baseball debut Monday night was overshadowed by the call-up of fellow Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz.

But Madris recorded three hits during the 12-1 trouncing of the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. That makes him just the 10th player in franchise history to accomplish that feat.

According to franchise statistical research, it’s the first time a Pirates player had three hits in his debut since Jason Kendall on April 1, 1996.

The only other Pirates players to do that since 1940 are Sam Khalifa (June 25, 1986) and Bobby Del Greco (April 16, 1952).

So how’d we do?

In Monday’s “First Call,” we suggested you keep an eye on the Major League Baseball box scores to track some of the strikeout totals from various ace pitchers.

League-leader Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays was pitching against Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, who entered the game fifth in the league. Cole wound up with 12 strikeouts. McClanahan ended up with eight Ks in a 4-2 defeat.

Meanwhile, we also told you to watch Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes against the St. Louis Cardinals. Burnes won a 2-0 decision, striking out 10 along the way.

McClanahan still leads MLB with 113 strikeouts. Burnes is in second place with 110. Cole is third at 103.

All three entered their starts with an over-under gambling line of 7.5 strikeouts, per BetRivers.com. If you parlayed all three on the over, your bet would’ve paid out at +500.

You’re welcome.

Near no-no

By the way, Cole flirted with a no-hitter in that game.

7 IP and no hits for Gerrit Cole. pic.twitter.com/s2cZIyWFNB

— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2022

The ex-Pirates pitcher took the no-hitter into the eighth inning before Isaac Paredes shot a groundball single up the middle to open the frame. Cole left with a 2-0 lead.

But then fellow former Pirate Clay Holmes blew the lead, yielding two runs. It was a rare bad outing for Holmes who still has an ERA of 0.55.

However, New York won 4-2 anyway, scoring twice in the ninth inning. At 50-17, the Yankees have the best record in Major League Baseball.