Coming off a disastrous three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs, the Pirates visit one of the American League’s top teams tonight. They’ll play the Cleveland Guardians, who currently lead the American League Central by a game-and-a-half over Kansas City.
Left-hander Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.25 ERA) throws for the Pirates against Guardians righty Ben Lively (11-8, 3.62 ERA). Falter is coming off a rough start against the Reds last Friday, giving up five earned runs in five innings. Lively gave up two earned runs in six-and-two- thirds against Texas last Saturday.
Because of high school football, the game will not be on WCCS tonight.
EXIT
The Pirates will not renew the contract of director of international scouting Junior Vizcaino. General manager Ben Cherington told mlb.com this week that the Bucs “had to get better, and a change was necessary to do that,” after investing heavily in the international market and not seeing much return. Since Vizcaino took the job in 2017, only two of his signings have played for the Pirates on the Major League level, Luis Ortiz and Ji Hwan Bae.
Vizcaino’s contract with the Pirates expires at the end of December. A search for a replacement will begin soon.
ALTOONA CURVE
Make it three straight wins for Altoona over New Hampshire after Brenden Dixon’s bases-loaded 10th inning RBI single off the left field wall gave the Curve a 5-4 win. Jase Bowen’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th tied the game. Nick Cimillo hit a three-run bomb in the 6th for the Curve, his third at the AA level and 20th overall this season.
Po-Yu Chen starts for Altoona tonight.
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