After almost three years with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, closer Mark Melancon will be heading to Washington, D.C. On Saturday, it was announced Melancon was traded to the Washington Nationals in return for reliever Felipe Rivero and prospect Taylor Hearn. Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington said it was a “very difficult decision” to trade Melancon, especially “given the person that (he) is … he’s poured his heart and soul into this organization.” Melancon has had a phenomenal ... Read More
Miller Park a house of horrors for Pirates
It is no secret that the Millwaukee Brewers have dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park in recent years. On paper, the Pirates have the easiest second-half schedule in Major League Baseball, but that includes this series and two more at Miller Park, not to mention several other National League Central opponents with many of these series occurring on the road. The Brewers once again handled the Pirates, this time by a 3-1 score Friday night, spoiling a good outing from Steven ... Read More
MLB Trade Rumors: What should Pirates do at trade deadline?
The 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates (52-48) find themselves in a tough position with the trade deadline fast approaching and the team's position in the standings a bit different than in the past three years. Currently, the Pirates are third in the NL Central and trail the division-leading Chicago Cubs by 8.5 games; Pittsburgh is an additional two games out of making the playoffs as a wild card. So, at the trade deadline, should the Pirates be buyers or sellers — or should they simply stand ... Read More
Column: Pirates put together a true complete game
Normally when a complete game is thrown, this emphasis and honor is thrown on a pitcher. but on this particular Wednesday night, there was more to it than the effort Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole put forth. That is not to say Cole should not be commended for his efforts on this night, because he should, but he was certainly the beneficiary of some good offense and defense in a 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. After all, in this day and age where pitch counts, ... Read More
Liriano has short night in Pirates’ 7-4 loss to Mariners
Francisco Liriano didn't have his best stuff Tuesday night. Even despite a second inning solo home run from the Pittsburgh Pirates' (51-48) starting pitcher that gave his team a 4-1 lead, the veteran couldn't secure a win. And, instead, Liriano's outing tied for his shortest ever in the Pirates' 7-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners (51-48). Liriano lasted only 3.1 innings, giving up eight hits and all seven runs, elevating his ERA from 4.96 to 5.38. From the beginning, Liriano showed signs ... Read More
Huntington: It’s too early to determine nature of young pitcher injuries
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with reporters prior to Sunday's game and spoke on several topics, including injuries and the approaching trade deadline. On pitcher Tyler Glasnow's right shoulder discomfort: “I feel like we caught it early. That’s always good, but we don’t have a lot of information to relay at this time. I don’t think it was one pitch that he felt it on. To his credit, he’s trying not to let it be an excuse. He wanted to put his team in a position to ... Read More
Pirates bench the difference in win
Pittsburgh Pirates reserve Adam Frazier had seen Philadelphia Phillies reliever Edubray Ramos during the Arizona Fall League baseball season and used this knowledge to his benefit. Frazier was able to hit his first career home run, a solo shot over the Clemente Wall in right field, to help lead the Pirates to the 5-4 win over the Phillies on Sunday. "It was up and in," he said. "I figured he was going up and in with a fastball after missing with two off-speed pitches, so I just tried to ... 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
Column: Glasnow proves Pirates right
Since last September, fans have been campaigning to have Tyler Glasnow despite months of resistance from Pittsburgh Pirates management but those efforts were certainly backed up by a 7-4 win against the Phillies in which the prospect could not pitch out of the fourth inning. Glasnow struggled so much with his control that the same fans pleading for his arrival were at PNC Park booing and showing their displeasure at a dud of an outing. It was expected that Pirates manager Clint Hurdle ... 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