Gerrit Cole has been placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to June 4th) and will miss at least two scheduled starts with "right shoulder fatigue". The possibility of the DL stint was brought up by manager Clint Hurdle after yesterday afternoon's 9-3 loss to the Brewers. "Yes, but other than that, just because you want to make sure you're protecting a guy, so the conversation is being had," said Hurdle. "I think fatigue is the proper word and if you look at the season he pitched last year. The ... Read More
Brewers Beat Bucs 9-3
The Brewers took advantage of Edinson Volquez's lone bad inning and pulled away against the Pirates bullpen for a 9-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers (37-26) struck first in the first when Jean Segura reached on a Jordy Mercer fielding error and moved to third on two Ike Davis errors. Jonathan Lucroy the knocked him with a sac fly to center field. The Pirates struck back to take the lead in the third after Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen hit one-out singles. Following a Davis ... Read More
Locke to Make Spot Start
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