Once again Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with reporters prior to Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds to discuss his team's struggles and answer questions regarding the remainder of the season. Below is an edited transcript. On Josh Harrison: “This is not going to be day-to-day. We’ll have to see how he responds in 24-48 hours and determine what other diagnostics need to be explored if he is not feeling better.” Neftali Feliz/A.J. Schugel progress: “They’re ... Read More
Diaz makes debut in Pirates lineup; Glasnow to DL
The Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking for another series win Sunday when it faces the Philadelphia Phillies. Zach Eflin threw his second career complete game as the Phillies won Game 1, 4-0. The Pirates had a five run fifth inning winning Game 2, 7-4. In the rubber match, Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.44 ERA) will face Vince Velasquez (8-2, 3.15 ERA). Taillon will be making his seventh major league start. In his last start, he had a no-decision allowing a run on five hits in six innings ... Read More
Pirates make several moves in advance of Saturday’s game
It was a busy Saturday before the Pittsburgh Pirates afternoon contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. The short version is that Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will face Aaron Nola (5-8, 4.41 ERA), but how did we get here? Pirates option Schugel There had to be a player who would lose his spot with the team so that Glasnow got called up. That person ended up being A.J. Schugel. Schugel was a reliever the Pirates depended on to provide different lengths of appearances. He is 2-2 ... Read More
Rodriguez uses bat, glove to secure series win for Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon came in for the ninth inning to close out the latest come-from-behind game, this time over the St. Louis Cardinals — and, at Busch Stadium, something made him feel at home: his typical entrance music, AC/DC's “Thunderstruck.” What followed was a scoreless inning (extending his shutout streak to 20.1 innings), good for Melancon's 26th save of the season and for a 7-5 Pittsburgh win. The Pirates have made a habit of coming back late. Tuesday, they ... Read More
Pirates lose game, series to Marlins in extra innings
Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their third-consecutive game to the Miami Marlins, falling 4-3 in extra innings. But perhaps the biggest news from the game came with the injury report: Francisco Cervelli, Andrew McCutchen, David Freese and Jordy Mercer all left the game with various injuries. Cervelli injured his foot and left in the third inning, McCutchen left the game in the sixth inning with general thumb discomfort, Mercer was hit by a pitch on the elbow and left in the ninth ... Read More
Pirates’ comeback attempt falls short in St. Louis
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell by a 6-4 score Saturday afternoon when Matt Carpenter hit a walk-off two-run home run securing the victory for the St. Louis Cardinals. Jeff Locke had another quality start, allowing three runs in six innings of work and coming away with a no-decision. Locke teammates spotted him a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Carpenter led off the inning with a double, and Locke then walked both Stephen Piscotty and Matt Holliday. Randal Grichuk then singled two runs ... Read More
Pirates come up short against Cubs, Jake Arrieta
Remember when Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta walked the first two batters he faced? Yeah, that was the highlight of Tuesday's night's game. Pittsburgh Pirates color commentator Steve Blass joked that the turning point of the game came during the National Anthem. Blass may not have been far off, as the Cubs defeated the Pirates, 7-1. Call it the "Arrieta Effect" — the Cubs' ace pitcher is now 6-0 on the season and has a 17-game winning streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest since ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Vogelsong will not be on set pitch count
The bizarre two game home-and-home series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers continues at PNC Park tonight. A lot has changed in the last hour, as Michael Morse was designated for assignment and A.J. Schugel was called up to join the team in the bullpen. This was a move accomplished to protect the team since Francisco Liriano no longer is starting tonight's game and Ryan Vogelsong will be on the mound in his stead. Vogelsong (1-0 4.50 ERA) will get the ball tonight ... Read More
Pirates call up Schugel; Morse DFA’d
It turns out the Ryan Vogelsong start that will occur Wednesday night is not the only change to be announced in the past 24 hours. A.J. Schugel, a right-handed pitcher, has been called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Indianapolis Indians, the team's Triple-A affiliate. To allow for Schugel to get called up, Michael Morse was designated for assignment. Schugel does have major league experience as he was called up on April 12, 2015 with the Arizona Diamondbacks when Gerald Laird went ... Read More