The Pirates rebuilt their bullpen yesterday on Major League Baseball’s trade deadline day, and then without their new teammates, the guys in the bullpen shut down the Brewers in the opener of a four-game series in Milwaukee.
Joe Block has the story.
Manager Donnie Kelly was thrilled with the job done by Bubba Chandler.
Kelly says he knew the Brewers would fight back after falling behind, but the bullpen was equal to the task.
Mason Montgomery says Henry Davis had the magic touch with his catcher’s challenge on the game-ending strikeout.
Game Two of the series is tonight in Milwaukee, with the Bucs hoping to beat the first-place Brewers for the fifth straight time. Right-hander Jared Jones (2-2, 3.81 ERA) starts for the Pirates against Brewers righty Logan Henderson (5-1, 2.66 ERA). Airtime is 7:15, first pitch at 7:40 on WCCS.
CHERINGTON REBUILDS BUCS’ BULLPEN
General Manager Ben Cherington finally found the bullpen help he’s been searching for, trading minor league talent for three experienced big league bullpen arms. The most impactful trade was with the Mets, with the Pirates acquiring right-hander Luke Weaver in exchange for High-A shortstop Sammy Stafura, the player they got from the Reds last year for Ke’Bryan Hayes. Weaver is 32 years old, and was 2-1 in 42 appearances for the Mets this year with a 1.84 ERA, while averaging 9.2 strikeouts and 2.3 walks per nine innings. Opponents are batting only .162 off him this season.
Kelly is excited to add a reliever who has thrown big innings on the big stage for the Yankees and Mets in his career.
Cherington added two more veteran right-handers to the Pirates bullpen and another righty for the Indianapolis Indians. Two-time All-Star Kirby Yates arrives from the Angels in a trade for Altoona starter Kyle Robinson, who was acquired from the A’s earlier this season for Alika Williams. Lake Bachar comes to the Bucs from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor leaguers: Indianapolis pitcher Brandan Bidois, Greensboro outfielder Brian Sanchez, and Florida Complex League infielder Hyun Seng Lee.
Cherington completed his day by sending much-traveled Triple-A reliever Hunter Stratton to the Padres for right-hander Andrew Moore, who’s also been pitching this season at Triple-A.
KELLER’S SEASON IS OVER
The Pirates have shut down starter Mitch Keller for the season. He was placed on the sixty-day injured list yesterday with a teres major muscle injury to his right arm. Keller told the team about his discomfort after giving up seven runs in two innings in Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. Kelly has an obvious candidate to replace Keller in the rotation with Carmen Mlodzinski, but he said last night that he and his coaches haven’t had time to discuss their options.
VALDEZ IS TOP ROOKIE IN JULY
Right-fielder Esmerlyn Valdez has become the ninth Pirates player to be named National League Rookie of the Month. Valdez gets the July honors for batting .250 with eight home runs, five doubles, and 25 RBIs. Overall this season, he’s hitting .262 with fourteen homers and 38 RBIs in 44 games.
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