Pirates/MLB category, Page 75
Pirates closer David Bednar gets green light, finds groove to earn 2nd consecutive save
David Bednar had pitched the previous two games, so the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted to be careful before deciding whether the two-time All-Star closer was available for the ninth inning Tuesday night. Pirates manager Derek Shelton believed Bednar reported to PNC Park with the mindset that he wanted to pitch, so...
Pirates farm report for April 23, 2024: Veteran 1B Jake Lamb hitting .400 for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-11) lost 7-4 to Omaha (Royals). 1B Jake Lamb (.400) went 3 for 3 with two singles, a double, a walk and an RBI. 2B Nick Gonzales (.390) went 2 for 4 with two singles, a walk and a strikeout. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.429) finished 1 for...
Andrew McCutchen’s leadoff homer, Bailey Falter’s strong start lead Pirates past Brewers
After six games of scuffling, the Pittsburgh Pirates found a winning combination that worked for the second consecutive game: A leadoff home run and a quality start. Andrew McCutchen homered for the second consecutive game, and lefty Bailey Falter matched a career best with eight strikeouts over seven innings as...
Pirates put Andrew McCutchen at leadoff for a spark to end skid
With the Pittsburgh Pirates struggling offensively amid a six-game losing streak, manager Derek Shelton turned to a trusted veteran bat in search of a spark at the leadoff spot in the lineup. Andrew McCutchen understood the assignment. “I get it. It’s something that I’m familiar with,” McCutchen said. “When you...
Jared Jones sizzles again as Pirates beat Brewers to snap 6-game losing streak
Their losing streak was wearing on the Pittsburgh Pirates to the point that it showed in their body language, so Jared Jones provided the perfect antidote by turning the tables on the Milwaukee Brewers. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander strutted out to the mound with swagger, then unleashed eight fastballs that...
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis injured during Pirates batting practice at PNC Park
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis was hit in the back of the neck by a line drive during Pittsburgh Pirates batting practice Monday afternoon before the teams’ game at PNC Park. Trainers from both teams tended to Junis near the warning track in right field for 15 minutes before an...
Tim Benz: Pirates should give Jared Jones more pitches if he earns them
Russell Wilson’s first throwing attempt in Pittsburgh was a success. The new Steelers quarterback tossed out the first pitch at PNC Park on Friday night. The former minor league baseball player got a warm ovation as he delivered a strike from the top of the mound. Russell Wilson with a...
‘Losing my confidence’: Pirates SS Oneil Cruz candid about struggles with strikeouts
Oneil Cruz not only leads the major leagues in strikeouts but has more than twice as many as he does hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, who set the Statcast record for exit velocity, appears as confounded as anyone about his struggles at the plate. After his 10th consecutive game with...
Pirates farm report for April 21, 2024: Yasmani Grandall homers as Indians blank St. Paul
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 11-10) shut out St. Paul (Twins), 5-0. The Indians finished with a 5-1 record during the homestand. LHP Eric Lauer (2-0, 2.37) tossed five no-hit innings with eight strikeouts. RHP Ben Heller, RHP Connor Sadzeck, RHP Kyle Nicolas and RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. combined to allow one hit...
‘Everybody is frustrated’: Pirates suffer 6th consecutive loss, 2nd straight series sweep
After racing out to the best record in baseball through the first 11 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates look lost amid a freefall that saw them suffer a sixth consecutive loss and second straight series sweep. The home clubhouse was mostly quiet and subdued after a 6-1 loss to the Boston...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington defends decision to limit innings for young starting pitchers
Ben Cherington didn’t just defend the Pittsburgh Pirates’ decision to limit Jared Jones to five innings at the New York Mets on Tuesday but also applauded the coaching staff for coming up with the plan. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander was pulled despite holding the Mets scoreless and to one hit...
Pirates farm report for April 20, 2024: 3 Greensboro pitchers combine on 4-hit shutout
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-10) was crushed by St. Paul (Twins), 12-4. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (1-3, 6.86) started and gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. He struck out four. LHP Jose Hernandez (23.14) then allowed two runs in one-third of an inning and RHP Kade McClure (16.88) was...
Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler, armed with new outlook and curveball, off to hot start in AltoonaVideo
Few people go through high school without navigating some sort of event or experience that becomes impossible to forget. Like gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe, whatever that teenage situation was, however trivial, it can stay with you for years. Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Bubba Chandler had good...
Pirates continue to struggle with strikeouts, scoring runs in loss to Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed a troubling trend by increasing their hit total but had little answer for their most disturbing dilemma: They are struggling to stop striking out and score runs. The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning, and Masataka Yoshida provided the difference with a...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Plenty of questions surround Pirates’ player development
If you need reason not to trust the Pittsburgh Pirates’ developmental process, look no further than the most obvious example. Shortstop Oneil Cruz is 25, has all the raw talent in the world and doesn’t know how to play baseball. Cruz missed almost all of last season after breaking his...
Pirates farm report for April 19, 2024: Nick Gonzales, Ji Hwan Bae spark Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-9) defeated St. Paul (Twins), 7-2. SS Nick Gonzales (.387) went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a base hit. 3B Malcom Nunez (.317) was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. CF Ji Hwan Bae (.476) was 1 for 3 with a...
Red Sox trample Pirates in Quinn Priester’s season debut
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, manager Derek Shelton said sending Quinn Priester to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the season was a difficult decision. “Overall, it’s our belief that he is a good starting pitcher,” Shelton said. In his first start since...
Ke’Bryan Hayes returns to Pirates’ lineup while team keeps keen eye on his back tightness
Ke’Bryan Hayes returned to third base and the No. 3 spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates batting order Friday night after missing the previous two games against the New York Mets with tightness in his lower back. Manager Derek Shelton said he monitors Hayes’ back issue with daily conversastions. “The biggest...
Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman’s suspension reduced from 2 games to 1
After a meeting Friday morning among MLB officials and the Major League Players Association, Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman’s suspension was reduced from two games to one. He served the suspension Friday night when the Pirates played the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Chapman was ejected from the...
Pirates prospect Paul Skenes focused on preparing for major leagues, not timeline for call-upVideo
During an appearance Friday on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 No. 1 draft choice Paul Skenes said he has no idea when he will be called up to the big leagues. “I’ll be honest,” he told McAfee. “You know just as well as I do when I’m going...
First Call: Steelers QB Russell Wilson to throw out Pirates’ 1st pitch; watch Paul Skenes sparkle again in IndyVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is getting back to his baseball roots. Paul Skenes makes another minor league start. A local pitcher is tearing up the American League in Oakland, and we preview this weekend’s Pirates-Red Sox series at PNC Park. Russ is with us...
Bethel Park’s Justin Meis aims to keep climbing Pirates farm system ladder
It’s been nearly three years since the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted pitcher Justin Meis in the 10th round (No. 283 overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft, but the euphoria has yet to wear off for the Bethel Park native, who played collegiately at Eastern Michigan. Adding to the still-surreal feeling of...
Pirates farm report for April 18, 2024: Paul Skenes dominant again for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 9-9) gave up four runs in the top of the ninth but held on for a 6-5 win over St. Paul (Twins). Paul Skenes (0.00) made his fourth Triple-A start and was dominant again, throwing 3⅓ scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He allowed a double to 1B Yunior...
MLB suspends Pirates’ Aroldis Chapman 2 games for ‘inappropriate actions’ vs. Mets
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Aroldis Chapman was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount Thursday for his “inappropriate actions” against the New York Mets three days earlier. Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, made the announcement and said Chapman’s suspension begins Friday when the Pirates host Boston....
Pirates recall pitcher Quinn Priester from Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester on the major-league taxi squad Thursday. He is expected to be recalled to the 26-man active roster and start Friday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park. Priester is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA this season for Triple-A Indianapolis....
