The Pirates stumbled again yesterday, losing their eleventh game in their last twelve. Dan Zangrilli has the recap.
Manager Don Kelly says Andrew Heaney continues to struggle to command his pitches.
Kelly says the Pirates didn’t get the pitching they expected in the White Sox series, but he remains confident in this staff.
After losing three straight games to the team with the worst record in the American League, the Pirates open a series tonight against the team with the best record in the AL, and in all of baseball. Paul Skenes [4-8, 2.01 ERA] starts for the Bucs against the Tigers and Jack Flaherty [5-9, 4.65 ERA]. Airtime is 6:15 with first pitch at 6:40 on WCCS.
On The Ben Cherington Show on WCCS yesterday, the Pirates’ general manager said he is listening to offers with the MLB trade deadline approaching on July 31st. Cherington says the call volume increased rapidly last week during the All-Star break. He says he is focused on improving the Pirates for 2026.
Cherington says none of the Pirates have asked to be traded to a contender, but they’ve all been aware a trade could happen, especially those whose contracts are expiring after this season.
Cherington says top prospect Konnor Griffin is good to go after being hit by a pitch in his right wrist during the MLB Futures Game in Atlanta last week. Griffin played both games of a Greensboro doubleheader yesterday and was a combined 1-for-5.
Cherington was happy to be able to draft the top high school pitcher in the MLB Draft last week, and he says contract talks with right-hander Seth Hernandez are progressing. He’d like to get Hernandez signed to set the table for the rest of the draft class.
DAVE PARKER
The 2027 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is this Sunday. Former Pirates star Dave Parker will be among the inductees. He passed away June 28th from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. MLB announced this weekend that Parker’s induction speech will be delivered by his son, David.
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