Let's be frank here in regard to the Pirates' trade deadline deals — everyone had some level of disdain toward them. Whether it was sending mixed signals selling on closer Mark Melancon then buying on New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova, or the debacle that was the Francisco Liriano, Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez for Drew Hutchison trade, it would be hard to find anyone completely on-board with what the Pirates did. But what a difference a month makes. As a preface, this isn't to say ... Read More
Neal Huntington talks Nova, playoffs, Cole and more
Neal Huntington met with reporters prior to Sunday's Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Here are some highlights of said press conference. On Neftali Feliz: "Feliz feels better today. It’s more muscular than connective tissue. That is our read right now. On Jake Brentz and Pedro Vasquez, the relievers the Pirates picked up in Caminero trade: “We had a list of players we agreed to when we traded Caminero there. We tracked them with multiple scouts and took different ... Read More
Brewers sweep Pirates to push losing streak to 6
Domingo means "Born on Sunday" in Spanish, and two home runs by Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Domingo Santana in Sunday afternoon's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates secured the visitors a 10-0 victory and series sweep. Santana's first home run was his fifth of the season and was hit in the second inning against Pirates starter Steven Brault (0-2). This was Brault's lone hiccup of his outing, as he pitched five innings allowing the home run on four hits. He did walk three batters and ... Read More
Pirates pregame: Hurdle pitcher availability
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for their second sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this season and will have that chance Sunday afternoon. Steven Brault (0-1, 3.86 ERA) will face Chase Anderson (7-11, 4.92 ERA). Brault will be looking to avenge his lone career major league loss to the Brewers. That effort was the lone outing in which he pitched past the fourth inning in his three appearances with the Pirates. Something which may provide comfort to Brault is his catcher. Chris Stewart is ... Read More
Pirates relief spotty in 7-4 loss to Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia entered Saturday night's game a .184 hitter but left PNC Park having recorded three hits that helped give the Brewers a 7-4 series clinching victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Arcia ended up a home run shy of the cycle. On the Pirates end, they got Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson to walk a season-high six batters and allow four hits while elevating his pitch count to 99 pitches over 5.1. Despite this, the Pirates scored one run off ... Read More
Pirates base running gaffes costly in loss to Brewers
Less than a week after earning a four-game road sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the same Brewers 1-0 Friday night at PNC Park. This loss comes after a 1-5 mark during the team's last homestand, and now the Pirates fall to 67-65 on the season which is 2.5 games behind St. Louis for the second and final National League wild card spot. The Pirates did out-hit the Brewers in this game by a 7-3 margin, but it was what was done on the base paths that did the ... Read More
Column: Series sweep could be beginning of the end
Wednesday night's 6-5 Chicago Cubs victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates not only resulted in a sweep but confirmed what has been believed for a while. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a playoff team. They have yet to prove otherwise. This second half has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster for the team, which statistically had the easiest second-half schedule this season. Recently the Pirates had a 5-1 road trip that transitioned to a return to PNC Park and a 1-5 homestand. It ... Read More
Cubs, Hendricks blank Pirates, 3-0
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks has the lowest Earned Run Average among qualified pitchers and Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates found out why. All Hendricks (13-7) did was allow three hits in seven innings lowering his ERA to 2.09 as the Cubs bested the Pirates, 3-0. This victory put the Cubs at 21-6 in August, and the 21 wins is the most in a month since May 1977. Meanwhile, the Pirates now fall to 3-11 against the Cubs this season. All the runs needed for Kendrick ... Read More
Pirates bested by Cubs in 13th inning
The Pittsburgh Pirates had the opportunities to extend their road win streak to nine games, but they fell 8-7 to the Chicago Cubs in 13 innings. It was a case of the Pirates running out of bullpen arms, and reliever Jeff Locke (9-8, 5.39 ERA) threw his highest pitch total since Aug. 3 as a result. Locke threw three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Eventually, Locke seemed to tire, and he didn't record a single out in the 13th inning before Chicago's Miguel Montero recorded the ... Read More
Pirates place Gerrit Cole on DL, recall Steven Brault
The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 25 with posterior inflammation of the right elbow. Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault, tonight’s starter against the Chicago Cubs, has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in the corresponding move. LHP Steven Brault has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and will start tonight in Chicago. — Pirates (@Pirates) August 29, 2016 Cole, who is 7-9 this ... Read More