A return to PNC Park didn't help the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they lost 9-2 to the Los Angeles Angels. The loss is the Pirates' fourth-straight and fifth in the past six games. Once again, Francisco Liriano (4-5) struggled with command and location. The end result was an early exit — he lasted a season-low 3.1 innings after allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits. The Angels wasted no time setting the tone in the game, as Mike Trout and Johnny Giavotella each had RBI singles in a ... Read More
Liriano lacks command in Pirates loss to Rangers
Control has been an issue for Francisco Liriano of late and because of this, his success as a pitcher has hit a snag. With the Pittsburgh Pirates looking for a series win against the Texas Rangers, command and control once again eluded Liriano in a 6-2 defeat. Liriano (4-4) was given a 2-0 lead which in the past has allowed for him to get into more of a comfortable mindset. Jordy Mercer led off the game with his seventh double of the season and immediately was batted in by Andrew ... Read More
Jung Ho Kang returns to Pirates in big way
With the approach the Pittsburgh Pirates have taken this season, swinging at the first pitch is often frowned upon. Jung Ho Kang, in his 2016 debut, apparently didn't get the memo Friday night in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kang, in his first game back from left knee surgery, swung at the first two pitches he saw, which resulted in a double play and a pop-out. His approach seemed to be unsuccessful. That is, until Cardinals' pitcher Tyler Lyons threw a sixth-inning pitch to ... Read More
Pirates beat Reds to match April wins record
Getting outs on three pitches or less has always been a staple of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and starting pitcher Francisco Liriano found success accomplishing this Saturday night. He pitched 6.2 innings in a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at a rainy PNC Park. Liriano (1-1) had three three ball counts, and the zero walks he allowed was perhaps just as important — he came into this start leading National League pitchers with 17 walks, one behind the Major-League-high held by Felix ... Read More
Pirates sightseeing: Pirates win series, leave a lot to be desired
By no means was it pretty, but the Pittsburgh Pirates did just enough to take two of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here are my takeaways from the weekend that was. This bullpen is still a mess I feel as though every series I have been critical of the bullpen, so forgive me if there is repetition, but this is getting ridiculous. All weekend the bullpen did not rise up to the task and once again clearly was the weak link. Regardless of weather, it should not take eight ... Read More
Pirates sightseeing: Three takeaways from San Diego
The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped two of three road games against the San Diego Padres. There certainly were some things to like and things that were not so favorable. Here are just a few of each. Jeff Locke does not have a finishing pitch Anytime you are a pitcher who does not have blow-it-by-you velocity, you have to paint corners and find other ways to succeed. Add that inability to inconsistent performance and a lack of confidence from fans, and you have Jeff Locke. Locke was ... 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
Liriano scratched from Wednesday start because of hamstring tightness
At the start of the season, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was certainly disappointed to see a starting rotation job that was projected to go his way didn't. He was sent to the bullpen with the explanation that it wasn't so much him as that other pitchers just took his spot. Now, Vogelsong will get his first start as a Pirate since Sept. 29, 2004, after Wednesday's scheduled starter Francisco Liriano was scratched with hamstring discomfort. Quite a bit has changed since that day ... Read More
Liriano fans 10 in Pirates Opening Day win
It's hard to believe, but the most important at-bat came two batters into the bottom of the second inning. Josh Harrison was facing St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, with Gregory Polanco on second base after a lead-off double that hit off the Clemente Wall in right field. Harrison took a 2-1 offering and hit a ground ball, which allowed Polanco to advance to third base. Not only did this move a runner forward, something which was not done in the first inning when the Pittsburgh ... Read More
Daily Fantasy MLB Picks: Top DraftKings plays from Cardinals vs. Pirates, April 3
The wait is finally over as Opening Day is upon us. That also means the wait is over for Daily Fantasy Baseball players. With that in mind, let's scratch that itch and give you my top plays around the league with a focus on the Pirates and Cardinals matchup. With only a three-game slate, there aren't going to be many value plays around and with prices pretty low on Opening Day not many should be needed. Here's a look at my top plays for April 3. Biggest Favorite- Pirates ... Read More