The Pirates open the 2023 season in Cincinnati today, full of hope and question marks in manager Derek Shelton’s fourth season.
Among the questions:
- Is the outfield of Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, and Jack Suwinski going to lead the way at the plate, and will McCutchen even play much in the field after suffering an elbow injury in Bradenton?
- Will Reynolds stay in Pittsburgh?
- Is Mitch Keller the pitcher the Pirates think he is?
- Is Oneil Cruz ready to bust out for a historic first full season in the major leagues?
Shelton and the Pirates will take a first step toward answering those questions today.
In a spring training conversation on Indiana In the Morning, broadcaster Greg Brown commented on two of the real keys for the Pirates this year, pitcher Keller and shortstop Cruz.
Brown said Keller’s intriguing repertoire of pitches may have expanded to six and maybe even seven, but he’d be content if he continues his mastery of the pitches he’s always had.
Brown says Pirates fans will be amazed by what they see from Oneil Cruz.
Keller gets the start today for the Bucs against the Reds’ Hunter Greene. Greene was the pitcher who threw 7-and-a-third innings of no-hit ball against the Pirates last May in a game in which the Pirates had no hits over eight innings, but won, 1-0 on three walks and a game-winning RBI groundout in the 8th.
The rotation to start the season will be Keller pitching today, Rich Hill in game two of the series on Saturday, then Vince Velazquez on Sunday, Roansy Contreras in Boston on Monday, and Johan Oviedo on Tuesday.
Today’s broadcast of the Pirates’ season opener begins at 3:45 on WCCS. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10.
MLB
For the first time since 1968, Opening Day will feature all 30 MLB teams hitting the diamond. The Astros open their World Series title defense at home against the Chicago White Sox. The NL champion Phillies visit Jacob deGrom and the Rangers.
Devastating news for the Phillies…they’ve lost star first baseman Rhys Hopkins for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Hoskins hit 30 home runs for the Phils last year. They are already missing former MVP Bryce Harper until the All-Star break as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery.
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