Pirates left fielder Starling Marte will not start tonight's series finale against the Saint Louis Cardinals with a hand injury. The injury, which flared up during last night's game, has been bothering him off and on, according to manger Clint Hurdle. The team characterized the injury as a left hand bruise and Marte is day-to-day. Travis Ishikawa will start in left field in Marte's place. Jung Ho Kang will move up to Marte's usual cleanup spot in the batting order. Marte left the team’s ... Read More
Should Glasnow be considered for Pirates rotation?
The buzz around Pittsburgh for the Pirates to call up top pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow is growing. And it is hard to blame those that want to see him wearing black and gold before year’s end. The team’s once strong rotation is weakening: Francisco Liriano had to be checked by the trainer in the midst of a rough outing his last time out, AJ Burnett is injured, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton have had as many great moments as face palm-worthy ones and J.A. Happ does not inspire confidence ... Read More
Pirates lose as Locke falters in fifth
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central following a 4-3 loss Tuesday night. This loss pushed the Pirates to 6-17 on the road this season against NL Central opponents. Jeff Locke [6-7] allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base four innings out of five however, it was the fifth inning that was his undoing. Locke walked the first two batters he faced and then after a mound visit Jason Heyward hit a single to put the Cardinals ... Read More
McCutchen National League Player of the Week
Remember Andrew McCutchen's rough start to the season? It looks like he's well over that, as for the second time this year, he's been named the National League Player of the Week. It's the sixth time that McCutchen has received the honor in his career. McCutchen hit .563 during the week with eight RBI and seven runs. McCutchen added a steal and two home runs en route to the award. He last won the award in the end of May. McCutchen capped off his stellar week by going 7-12 in the Pirates' ... Read More
Bucs big inning sparks comeback, sweep of Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to hold onto a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, but instead left down seven runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reliever Jim Johnson [2-5] allowed eight runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning. He would call it one of his worst outings in his professional career after the game. The Pirates won the game 12-6 and earned their first sweep of the Dodgers in Pittsburgh since 1999. “Wow," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It’s a testament that these ... Read More
Neal Huntington on Cole Tucker’s injury and Vance Worley’s uncertain future
As he does every Sunday home game, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with the media discussing a variety of topics both at the major and minor league level. On Vance Worley accepting assignment: “We are still awaiting word. Obviously our hope is that he will [accept the assignment]. As a guy with more than three years of service and a prior outright he does have the ability to refuse the assignment and go somewhere else. We made it clear that we would love for him to stay ... Read More
Pirates pregame 7/9: Morton hopes to chop Wood, Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates won their 19th series of the season winning the first two games of a three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the two games thus far, the Pirates were 5-4 [10 innings] and 6-5 winners. Tonight, Charlie Morton [7-4 4.19 ERA] takes on Alex Wood [7-7 3.65 ERA]. Morton is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one career start against the Dodgers which came on April 30, 2010. Morton won his last start against the Cincinnati Reds in which he pitched seven scoreless ... Read More
POLL: Which game are you watching tonight?
With the Pirates and the Steelers both playing tonight, will you be watching the Pirates battle the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball, or will your attention be on the Steelers in their preseason opener and Hall of Fame Game against the Vikings? [poll id="143"] ... Read More
Replay decisions benefit Pirates
Three decisions changed the course of Saturday afternoon's Pittsburgh Pirates versus Los Angeles Dodgers game and all had one commonality; instant replay. It is extremely rare for a team to challenge three plays, let alone emerge victorious in each, however that was the case for the Pirates. "It speaks to the importance of it and why we have it," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Every one of the calls was against us and could have changed the outcome of the game dramatically. Today was one of ... Read More
Liriano helps own cause in come-from-behind victory
In his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Francisco Liriano has often backed away from pitches when he bats. Saturday afternoon, however, he took one deep to the opposite field and hit his first career home run, helping the Pirates defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 6-5 score. “I was trying to put the ball in play and I put a good swing on it and hit a homer," Liriano said. "I got lucky there. I used to hit before so I have a little pop in me.” In the first inning, Liriano allowed one run ... Read More