The All Star break is over and the Pirates open up the second half of the season at PNC Park with a seven-game homestand starting tonight against St. Louis. Gerrit Cole pitches for Pittsburgh against the Cardinals’ Mike Leake. Cole is 7-and-7 with a 4.43 ERA. Leake is 6-and-7.
After the series against the Cardinals, the Pirates will welcome the NL Central-leading Brewers for four games. The Bucs are currently fourth in the division at 42-and-47, seven games behind Milwaukee.
A pitcher the Pirates reportedly pursued last offseason has been traded, but not to Pittsburgh. White Sox starter Jose Quintana moves from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side. The Sox traded Quintana to the Cubs in exchange for four minor leaguers, including their top two prospects in outfielder Eloy Jimenez, (rated the number five prospect in all of baseball) and pitcher Dylan Cease.
