After watching a 2-0 lead evaporate and falling behind yesterday, the Pirates were looking for a Sunday hero, and they found their guy in the ninth. Joe Block recaps a walkoff win at PNC Park.
Manager Derek Shelton says Yasmani Grandal may not be the hitter he once was, but still swings a good bat.
Starter Luis Ortiz hit two batters in the first inning but Shelton says pitching coach Oscar Marin helped him refocus and settle in to a quality outing.
The Pirates welcome another NL Central Division foe to PNC Park tonight. Mitch Keller [11-7, 3.76 ERA] faces the Chicago Cubs, who will start former Pirate Jameson Taillon [8-8, 3.77 ERA]. Both teams have won three of their last four games. It’s a 6:15 airtime, 6:40 first pitch on WCCS.
On The Ben Cherington Show on WCCS yesterday, the Pirates’ GM spent a lot of time discussing the rookie season and the long-term potential of pitcher Paul Skenes, who has started his MLB career 8-2 with a 2.16 ERA. Cherington says Skenes demonstrated in college that he likes to commit to his environment, so he feels the Pirates have time before they have to think about a long-term contract for the young pitcher.
Another young Pirates pitcher with tremendous promise is right-hander Jared Jones. He’s been out since early July but Cherington says Jones is ready to return from the injured list and his next start will be in a Pirates uniform.
The Pirates’ probable pitchers sheet has Mitch Keller tonight and Paul Skenes pitching on Wednesday, but the Tuesday pitcher is not yet listed, so Jones could slot in there, and with Luis Ortiz having pitched yesterday, the Bucs’ rotation could feature four consecutive right-handers capable of throwing in the upper 90s to low 100s.
Pirates injury news over the weekend included Joey Bart leaving yesterday’s game with a hamstring issue. He was replaced as DH by Connor Joe.
Pitcher Hunter Stratton’s season is over after he ruptured his left patellar tendon while trying to stop to avoid hitting the wall on a wild pitch/play at the plate. Stratton will have knee surgery after being carted off the field on Saturday. 33-year-old left-handed reliever Brady Feigl was called up to replace Stratton. He’s been in pro ball since 2013 but has never pitched in the big leagues. The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract in January after he pitched last season in the independent Mexican League.
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