Gerrit Cole continues to work his way back to a spot in the Pirates starting rotation after a solid rehab start in Indianapolis on Sunday. "It was good work [Sunday]," said Cole. "It was efficient. Good location of all four pitches and it was a nice outing." Cole pitched six shutout innings in his Sunday rehab start allowing one hit while striking out three. It was a welcome sight after going through a "mechanical" rehab outing in which he allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. ... Read More
How will the Pirates fare without their “big three”?
Andrew McCutchen will be out for at least this homestand with an " avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib", Neil Walker is out of the lineup with back problems and Gerrit Cole is making another rehab start in the minors. These injuries come at the most inopportune time as the Pirates are only 2 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central and 1 1/2 games out of the NL wild card thanks, in part, to the continued stellar play of these three. In 109 games played ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 8/6: Cole Update, Hurdle discusses playing with 23
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (59-53) look to bounce back from last night's late inning loss to the Marlins (55-57) in the second game of a three-game set. Jeff Locke (2-3, 3.77 ERA) will oppose Tom Koehler (7-8, 3.70 ERA). Injury Update Neil Walker is not in today's lineup after leaving last night's game with a stiff back. "Based on the way he responded last night, there was some tightening up," said manager Clint Hurdle. ":We thought we would give him another full day of ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 8/5: Injury Update, Hurdle discusses galvanization
Good afternoon from PNC Park where this evening the Pirates (59-52) begin an 8-game homestand against the Marlins (54-57). Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.54 ERA) will look for his first victory since July 2 against Brad Hand (2-3, 4.15 ERA). Injury Update Andrew McCutchen has been diagnosed with an "avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib." Meaning the cartilage of the rib was torn off. The team currently doesn't plan on putting McCutchen on the 15-day DL because ... Read More
Cole taking rehab slow and steady
Gerrit Cole is making progress in his rehab since being placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to 7/5 with "right lat soreness" . Wednesday he threw a four inning simulated game prior to the teams series finale against the Dodgers. It was expected to be a 50-60 pitch outing, but Cole felt good enough to add a few more pitches. "I threw 70 pitches," Cole said. "Everything was pretty good. I feel good, so we'll have to gameplan what the next step is. I didn't ask how many I had to ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 7/23: Injury update, Hurdle discusses OBP
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (53-47) look to take the series against the Dodgers (56-46). Francisco Liriano (1-7, 4.43 ERA) will oppose Dan Haren (8-7, 4.30 ERA). Injury Update -- Starling Marte is not in tonight's starting lineup and is not listed as a player off the bench. He is currently undergoing concussion testing. If he fails those tests, he will be placed on the 7-day concussion DL and Brent Morel will be called up from AAA Indianapolis. "We're still going through ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 7/21: Hurdle discusses Polanco, Walker
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (52-46) look to add onto their three-game win streak against the Dodgers (55-45). Edinson Volquez (8-6, 3.65 ERA) will face Hyun-Jun Ryu (10-5, 3.44 ERA). Injury Update -- Gerrit Cole will throw a sim game on Wednesday at PNC Park. One inning with a screen and three without a screen. "We're going to try to get him to 50-55 pitches, maybe 60," said manager Clint Hurdle. -- Starling Marte is in tonight's starting lineup after pinch-hitting last ... Read More
Mercer’s 4-RBI Evening Lifts Pirates Past Phillies 8-2
Jordy Mercer recorded 4 RBI and Gerrit Cole pitched like the man he was prior to his injury before re-injuring himself as the Pirates took the first game of a three-game set from the Phillies 8-2 on a perfect 4th of July afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Pirates provided some early fireworks for the sellout crowd at PNC with a four-spot in the first. Russell Martin, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer (2 RBI) all provided RBI in the inning while the offense collected five hits and walked twice in the ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 7/4: Hurdle Discusses Today’s Pitching Matchup
Good afternoon and Happy 4th of July from PNC Park where this evening the Pirates (44-41) begin a three-game set against the cross-state rival Phillies (37-48). Gerrit Cole (6-4, 4.02 ERA) will look to rebound from his previous start against Roberto Hernandez (3-7, 4.26 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On sitting most of his LH hitters against RHP Hernandez: "It's about a 50-point spread (RH vs. LF avg.). The walk-to-strikeout's different. The contact, some other indicators. I just thought it would be a ... Read More
Cole Struggles in Return from DL
Gerrit Cole's return from the DL didn't go as planned as the Mets jumped all over him for five runs in four innings of work as New York defeated the Pirates 5-3 on Saturday afternoon. Velocity wasn't a problem for Cole, who threw between 95-97 with the fastball, but his location of pitches did hurt him as the Mets put five runs and five hits on the board through two innings. All runs were scored with two outs. Cole was able to get through the third and fourth innings without allowing ... Read More