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Quinn Priester Quinn Priester Delivers six shutout frames
Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 3:53 AM
Priester struck out six and gave up three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings during Friday's 3-0 loss in San Francisco. He didn't factor in the decision.
Analysis: Priester and Giants starter Kyle Harrison each delivered six shutout frames, and the game remained a scoreless tie until Patrick Bailey's walk-off homer in the ninth. Priester surrendered three homers in his season debut versus Boston last week, but he looked much better Friday with 14 whiffs on 84 pitches (58 strikes). The strong performance should give the 23-year-old another turn through the rotation while Marco Gonzales remains sidelined by a forearm injury. |
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David Bednar David Bednar Falters in San Francisco
Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 3:43 AM
Bednar (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Giants after he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out.
Analysis: Pirates manager Derek Shelton turned to his closer in the bottom of the ninth of a scoreless tie, but Bednar gave up a walk and a single before serving up a walk-off, three-run homer to Patrick Bailey. Bednar entered the contest with three straight scoreless appearances, but he has now allowed at least three runs in three separate outings and has a 12.00 ERA across nine innings overall. The right-hander is 4-for-7 in save opportunities and has seen his job security decline significantly after beginning the campaign as one of the top closers in MLB with 58 saves and a 2.27 ERA in the previous two seasons. |
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Kyle Nicolas Kyle Nicolas Recalled by Pittsburgh
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 5:30 PM
The Pirates recalled Nicolas from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Nicolas ended the 2023 season as part of the Pirates' bullpen. He struggled in his four outings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out seven over 5.1 frames. Nicolas has looked better in Triple-A this season, posting a 0.84 ERA and 2.06 WHIP over 10.2 innings, and he'll get another shot in Pittsburgh's bullpen. The move corresponds with Ryder Ryan being optioned by the Pirates to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. |
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Alika Williams Alika Williams Working as reserve infielder
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 10:16 AM
Williams went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Thursday against the Brewers.
Analysis: The 25-year-old was in the lineup for the 10th time this season, as he stepped in at second base while Jared Triolo shifted to third in place of a resting Ke'Bryan Hayes. Williams has at least one hit in all but one of his starts this season, but he remains a bench option for Pittsburgh despite hitting .323 (10-for-31). |
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Jack Suwinski Jack Suwinski Yet to get on track
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 9:51 AM
Suwinski went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Brewers.
Analysis: Suwinski delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning and came around to score to give the Pirates the lead. It was his second consecutive start with a double, but he had only five hits in 24 at-bats across a seven-game homestand. Suwinski has cut his strikeout rate to 17.2 percent -- down from 32.2 percent in 2023 -- but that has yet to lead to positive results, as he's batting .183 with two home runs across 93 plate appearances. |
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Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman Struggling to get outs
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 9:26 AM
Chapman (0-2) allowed two earned runs on two hits and no walks while striking out one to take the loss Thursday against the Brewers.
Analysis: Chapman entered the game in the eighth inning to protect a one-run lead. He initially ran into some bad luck when a runner reached base on weak contact that didn't leave the infield, but the veteran lefty then threw a wild pitch and served up a home run to Gary Sanchez. Chapman began the season with 5.1 scoreless innings, but he's since allowed six earned runs across his last 2.2 frames and four appearances. |
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Joey Bart Joey Bart Blasts three-run shot
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 8:53 AM
Bart went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs scored in Thursday's loss to the Brewers while also drawing a walk.
Analysis: Bart put the Pirates ahead with a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning, giving the catcher his third home run in just seven games this season. He also drew a two-out walk in the fifth before coming around to score the tying run on a Jack Suwinski double, marking Bart's first game this season with two runs scored. The backstop has hit safely in six of his seven games and continues to make a strong case for more playing time with Henry Davis scuffling at the plate and Yasmani Grandal (foot) still on the 10-day injured list. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Fans seven in no-decision
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 5:51 AM
Keller allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over five frames in a no-decision against the Brewers on Thursday while striking out seven.
Analysis: Keller got off to a rocky start, surrendering a solo home run to William Contreras in the second at-bat of the game. Back-to-back walks to open the frame and some shaky defense behind him then led to two more runs in the third. The right-hander failed to make it through six innings for the first time in his last four starts while allowing four earned runs for the fourth time this season. On a positive note, Keller did record his second-highest strikeout total of the campaign with seven. |
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Ryder Ryan Ryder Ryan Shuttled back to Indy
Thu, Apr 25, 2024, 9:12 PM
Ryan was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Ryan has had success in the majors this season, maintaining a 3.00 ERA with a 13:5 K:BB across 12 innings. He threw 1.2 scoreless frames Thursday against the Brewers, so this move is likely just a roster shuffle to get a fresh arm in the Pirates' bullpen in the short term. No corresponding move was announced. |
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Joey Bart Joey Bart Poaching starts from Henry Davis
Thu, Apr 25, 2024, 10:11 AM
Bart will start at catcher and bat cleanup Thursday against the Brewers.
Analysis: Bart has been included in the lineup in four of the past six games and appears to have surpassed Henry Davis on the depth chart at catcher. The eventual return of Yasmani Grandal (foot) from the 10-day injured list could cost Bart some playing time, but for now, the 27-year-old should garner the lion's share of starts behind the dish while he's swinging a hot bat. Bart heads into Thursday's game with a 1.119 OPS over 23 plate appearances on the season. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Playing time dipping
Thu, Apr 25, 2024, 9:42 AM
Davis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Brewers.
Analysis: He has now started just two of the previous six games and will give way to Joey Bart behind the dish Thursday. Davis is slashing just .180/.288/.230 with a 31.1 percent strikeout rate this season, and with Yasmani Grandal (foot) nearing a return, he could find himself back in the minors soon. |
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Ke'Bryan Hayes Ke'Bryan Hayes Not in Thursday's lineup
Thu, Apr 25, 2024, 9:38 AM
Hayes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Hayes looks to be getting some routine maintenance for a day game after a night game. With Hayes on the bench, the Pirates will shift Jared Triolo over to third base Thursday and give Alika Williams a start at second base. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Homers in loss
Thu, Apr 25, 2024, 9:14 AM
Reynolds went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.
Analysis: Reynolds got the Pirates on the board in the third inning with a two-run shot off Bryse Wilson, Pittsburgh's only two runs in the eventual defeat. It's the third homer of the year for Reynolds and his first extra-base hit in 13 games. The switch-hitting outfielder is now slashing .263/.386/.411 with 15 RBI, nine runs scored and a pair of stolen bases through 25 games this season. |
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Quinn Priester Quinn Priester Set to start Friday
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 2:50 PM
Priester is slated to make his next appearance as the starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Giants in San Francisco, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Earlier in the week, the Pirates listed Priester as their probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Brewers, but Pittsburgh is instead having Josh Fleming open Wednesday's contest for what will be a bullpen day. Priester won't have his turn in the rotation skipped, however, as the Pirates will simply push him back in the schedule a couple of days to have him start Friday's series opener at Oracle Park. Priester will look to rebound after he struggled mightily in his 2024 MLB debut this past Friday versus the Red Sox, taking a loss while allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. |
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Michael A. Taylor Michael A. Taylor On bench Wednesday
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 1:18 PM
Taylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Analysis: Taylor will sit for the second time in four games, enabling Jack Suwinski to pick up a start in center field while Connor Joe and Edward Olivares occupy the corner-outfield spots. With Minnesota last season, Taylor was a sneaky source of fantasy value with 21 home runs and 13 stolen bases, but he's not providing much counting-stats juice in the early stages of the 2024 campaign. Through 66 plate appearances over 18 games, Taylor is hitting .267 but has yet to hit a home run and has stolen only one base. |
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Andrew McCutchen Andrew McCutchen Taking seat Wednesday
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 1:17 PM
McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Brewers.
Analysis: McCutchen has gone deep in back-to-back contests, but he'll receive a day of rest Wednesday. Bryan Reynolds will get a turn as the Pirates' designated hitter, while Connor Joe and Edward Olivares will occupy the outfield corners. |
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Quinn Priester Quinn Priester Not starting, may work in bulk relief
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 9:45 AM
Priester is no longer scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Brewers, as Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed that Josh Fleming will get the nod instead, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Though Shelton didn't go into detail regarding the Bucs' pitching plans for Wednesday, Priester could still factor into the equation even though he won't be making his second start of the season. Fleming hasn't recorded more than five outs in any of his last eight appearances for Pittsburgh and likely won't be asked to work deep into Wednesday's contest, so Priester could be on tap to serve as a bulk reliever and cover multiple innings out of the bullpen. Deploying Priester in relief could yield better results for the young right-hander, who was roughed up by the Red Sox for five runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings in his 2024 MLB debut this past Friday. |
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Josh Fleming Josh Fleming Opening Wednesday's contest
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 9:41 AM
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Fleming will start Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Fleming has previously made 22 starts in the majors with the Rays over the previous four seasons, but he's worked exclusively out of the bullpen this season for Pittsburgh. The southpaw has one three-inning appearance under his belt, but it came back on March 29, and each of his subsequent eight outings have lasted 1.2 innings or fewer. As such, Fleming shouldn't be expected to work deep into Wednesday's contest and may be serving as a glorified opener in front of rookie Quinn Priester, who had initially been in line to start the game. |
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Andrew McCutchen Andrew McCutchen Looking good as leadoff hitter
Wed, Apr 24, 2024, 8:54 AM
McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Brewers.
Analysis: McCutchen has hit atop the Pirates' order in consecutive games and has led off each contest with a homer. He now has three long balls on the season and is potentially getting out of a slump that resulted in him hitting just .173 across his first 14 games of the campaign. It's unclear whether McCutchen has taken over leadoff duties for good, but the Pirates have shifted Oneil Cruz down the lineup as a result. |
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David Bednar David Bednar Grabs fourth save
Tue, Apr 23, 2024, 10:32 PM
Bednar earned the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Brewers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: After a shaky start to the year, Bednar's now delivered three straight scoreless appearances, allowing just one hit in that span. Overall, he's 4-for-7 in save chances with a 9.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB through 12 innings this season. |
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