The Pittsburgh Pirates return home for a three-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies. In tonight's game Francisco Liriano will face Jon Gray. Liriano is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts. In his last start he won against the San Francisco Giants allowing two runs [neither earned] on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. The Pirates have won each of Liriano's last 10 starts this matches their second-longest in the last 44 years in games started by a particular pitcher. The ... Read More
Pirates take three of four from Marlins with 2-1 win
The Pittsburgh Pirates took three of four games with its 2-1 victory against the Miami Marlins Thursday. This victory gives the Pirates 28 one-run victories on the season. Gerrit Cole [15-7] won his first game since July 26. The 7.1 innings he threw were a high in August starts. Cole's biggest obstacle came in the bottom of the third inning when Francisco Cervelli was ejected by home plate umpire Alan Porter. Cervelli disagreed with a pitch that was ruled a ball as it was ruled a strike to ... Read More
Pirates mailbag: Glasnow, who starts at third, and Happ or Locke
The MLB Playoffs are just around the corner and the Pirates are in good position to make a run at the National League Central. If that does not pan out, they do hold the top spot in the NL Wild Card race. With that in mind, PSN readers submitted their questions and for the first time, I will take them on in this mailbox. Does Tyler Glasnow get called in before season's end and if not does he see PNC Park before Jameson Taillon? - Chris Carter At the end of the day, calling up Tyler ... Read More
Locke shines as Bucs roll over Marlins
Jeff Locke pitched seven innings for the first time since July 19 and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Miami Marlins by a 7-2 score. Both teams scored in the first inning. Josh Harrison led off with a walk. Two batters later, Andrew McCutchen recorded his 32nd double of the season, placing the first run on the board. Locke (7-8) was one strike away from getting out of the first inning, however, he allowed a solo home run to Martin Prado on a 2-2 count. The Pirates pulled away with a ... Read More
Cole Tucker to miss 10-12 months
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Cole Tucker, the team's first-round draft pick in 2014, had surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder and will miss 10-12 months. Tucker was ranked as the 19th best prospect in the team's system. With the Single-A West Virginia Power this season, Tucker batted .293 with two home runs and 25 RBI to go with an OPS of .699. Tucker also had 13 errors which is currently the second highest total on the team. Just before the end of Spring Training this ... Read More
Happ’s success shows that it’s ‘In Searage we Trust’
Ray Searage may have done it again. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach notorious for turning struggling castaway pitchers into solid and at times outstanding contributors appears to have pulled another rabbit out of his hat. This time, the rabbit’s name is J.A. Happ. Happ has only pitched in four games for the Pirates, but aside from his poor first outing he has been exactly what the doctor ordered for a Pirate rotation that looked to be falling apart a few weeks ago. He has limited ... Read More
Pirates’ Morton loses first decision in more than a month
Brad Hand departed the game for the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning, however by then it was too little too late for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hand [4-3] just missed his first ever complete game but threw a career-high eight-plus innings in a 5-2 victory Tuesday night against the Pirates which evened the four-game series at one victory apiece. Prior to the ninth inning, the top half of the first presented the Pirates high point against Hand. With two outs in the first inning, Andrew ... Read More
COLUMN: Is Kang a serious ROY candidate?
Four months ago, if you would have asked if Jung Ho Kang would have a chance at winning the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award, the answer would have been a “no.” But then July rolled around, and Kang’s stats changed to .379 AVG/.443 OBP/.621 SLG (1064 OPS, 201 wRC+) and turned the competition on its ear as he helped the Pirates to a league best 17-9 in July. It does not come as a surprise that he’s good. With 40 home runs and a 1.198 OPS for the Nexen Heroes in 2014, the Buccos’ ... Read More
Happ wins second straight as Bucs manhandle Marlins
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to 27 games over .500 for the first time since 1992 with a 5-2 victory Monday night against the Miami Marlins. Andrew McCutchen played in the 1,000th game of his major league career and had two RBI when he hit his 30th double of the season in the third inning. His double put the Pirates in front by a 2-0 score. J.A. Happ [2-1] has now allowed one run in his last 19 innings of work, an ERA of 0.47. He allowed no runs on four hits and has allowed just six hits in ... Read More
Cervelli’s health has been key for Pirates
When Francisco Cervelli was traded from the New York Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates, expectations immediately rose. He was, after all, replacing Russell Martin. Martin was a clear leader of the Pirates and was well-liked by his teammates and fans as well as the media. Martin was known for having a tireless work ethic and was always willing to put his teammates needs above his own. "It’s been so much fun to see him thrive in this environment, take charge, learn and get better," catching ... Read More