Jeff Locke will be called up from AAA Indianapolis to start either Sunday in the series finale against the Brewers or Monday in the series opener against the Cubs. "Our intentions are to bring Locke in," said manager Clint Hurdle. "Cole has shoulder fatigue and our intentions are to potentially start Locke tomorrow and move Charlie back a day. Our intentions are to do that, so that's the way we're thinking of doing that right now." Locke was scratched from his start at Indianapolis on ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 6/7: Locke Scratched from AAA Start
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (29-31) look to continue their climb up the NL Central standings against the Brewers (36-26). Edinson Volquez (3-4, 4.25ERA) will oppose Matt Garza (3-4, 4.42 ERA). -- Jeff Locke was scratched from his start in AAA Indianapolis last night. Manager Clint Hurdle says the team is "working through" their short term rotation plans. Tomorrow is supposed to be Charlie Morton's spot in the rotation and Gerrit Cole is supposed to go on Monday, ... Read More
Pirates Blow by Brewers 15-5
Pittsburgh -- The Pirates used an eight-run sixth inning to pull away from the Brewers 15-5 on Friday night at PNC. The Pirates (29-31) got two runs on the board right off the bat with RBI by Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin. McCutchen would add a solo-home run in the third to push the lead to 3-0. The Brewers (36-26) bounced back off of Pirates starter Brandon Cumpton in the fourth. Jonathan Lucroy singled with one out and Carlos Gomez followed with a double setting up second and ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 6/6: Hurdle Talks Tabata’s Hot Bat vs. Lohse, Marte Update
Good afternoon from PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (28-31) begin a pivotal three-game series with the Brewers (36-25), who are seven games ahead of the Bucs for first place in the NL Central. Brandon Cumpton (0-2, 6.85 ERA) will take the hill and will face Kyle Lohse (7-1, 2.60 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On Jose Tabata starting in LF tonight: "It because Tabata has had a really good history hitting [Lohse] if you have looked at his numbers. It's not 12 at bats, it's 33 at bats, it's 14 hits, ... Read More
Pirates Make Final Two Picks of the First Day of the 2014 MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected RHP Mitch Keller (6-foot-3, 200 LB) out of Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids, IA) with their third pick (#64 overall) and RHP Trey Supak (6-foot-5, 210 LB) out of La Grange High School (La Grange, TX) with their fourth pick (#73 overall) to end their first day of picking at the 2014 MLB Draft. Keller is the 69th rated player in this years class by MLB.com and has a fastball that stays steady in the low-90's topping off at 95 sometimes. His Curve has a chance of ... Read More
Pirates Select OF/C Connor Joe With Their Second Pick of the 2014 MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected OF/C Connor Joe (6-foot-0, 205 LB) from the University of San Diego with their second pick (#39 overall) of the 2014 MLB Draft. The right-handed-hitting Joe hit .367 (80-for-218) with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 51 RBI in 53 games during his junior year at the University of San Diego this past season. He led the team in home runs and RBI. Joe Played and started in 61 games as the USD everyday first baseman... helped lead the team to the West ... Read More
Pirates Select SS Cole Tucker With Their First Pick of the 2014 MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected SS Cole Tucker (6-foot-3, 165 LB) from Mountain Pointe High School (Pheonix, AZ) with their first round pick (#24 overall) in the 2014 MLB Draft. Tucker played on Team USA in the 18U World Cup winning gold for the red, white and blue. He is a switch hitter who hit .404 (34-for-84) with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 30 RBI and 13 stolen bases this season and has much room to improve as Clint Longenecker of Baseball America writes. "The ... Read More
The Curious Case of Starling Marte
While all of the talk around the Pittsburgh Pirates as of late has surrounded super-prospect Gregory Polanco, the Bucs have a bigger problem to worry about at the moment and that is trying to get left fielder Starling Marte figured out. After a 2013 season, his first full one in the majors, that saw Marte post a .280/.343/.441 line, including 41 steals, the mere fact that Marte hasn't taken the next step is one of the more disappointing aspects surrounding this 2014 team. That rings ... Read More
Cole Solid, Homers Propel Bucs Past Padres 4-1
Gerrit Cole went 5 2/3 innings of four-hit ball and Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker provided long-balls as the Pirates (28-30) defeated the Padres (26-33) 4-1 on Tuesday night. Cole allowed a single hit -- a two out double by Will Venable in the second inning -- through 5 2/3 innings before getting into a bit of trouble. Chase Headley, Seth Smith and Yonder Alonso all singled to bring across the Padres only run knocking Cole from the game. Jared Hughes then came in and got a nice backhand play ... Read More
Mercer Leads Bucs to 10-3 Win Over Padres
Jordy Mercer's 4-for-5 night paced a high-powered Pirate offense as the black and gold posted 16 hits in a 10-3 drubbing of the San Diego Padres on Monday night. Mercer -- 4-for-5 with a HR, 3 1B, BB, 2 RBI and 4 runs -- started the scoring in the third inning off of Padres starter Tim Stauffer with an upper-deck solo home run to left. The Pirates then loaded the bases allowing Ike Davis to hit a sac fly to make it 2-0. Stauffer followed that by walking Russell Martin chasing him from the game ... Read More