Pirates/MLB category, Page 281
Five ways the Pirates pitching staff can save day
When Chris Archer pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 2017, he saw in Jameson Taillon a young starter who had good stuff but didn’t yet possess the separator pitch that would make him a major league star. When Archer joined the Pirates after being acquired from Tampa Bay in...
National League preview: $300-million men could make big difference
The marquee storyline(s) of the NL East and West divisions differ now than from when spring training began. A pair of $300 million-plus contracts sure can change things. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres might or might not be great teams this season, but many eyes will be on...
NL Central preview: Every team (even the Pirates) in contention for playoffs
It might seem as if the Chicago Cubs have been dominating the NL Central in recent years, but is it really a dynasty when they’ve won the division just twice? The Cubs have averaged 97 wins per season over the past four years but twice had to settle for wild...
Lyles pitches Pirates past Phillies, possibly locking up final spot in rotation
Jordan Lyles possibly locked up the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation in his final start of spring training. Lyles allowed seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks as the Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3, on Saturday in a split-squad Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park...
Pirates to put Melky Cabrera, Francisco Liriano on Opening Day roster
The Pittsburgh Pirates have committed to outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano making their Opening Day roster. Saturday was the deadline for the Pirates to make that decision, per the retention bonus protocol. The 34-year-old Cabrera, a career .280 hitter, is expected to serve as their fourth outfielder....
Jung Ho Kang collects 2 hits, but Pirates still fall to Rays
Jung Ho Kang went 2 for 3 with a double while starting at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kang also registered a pair of put-outs along with a fielder’s choice, but what he didn’t do was hit a home run on a day the Pirates could have used one. The...
Jung Ho Kang’s walk-off grand slam leads Pirates past Orioles
The big news of the day for Jung Ho Kang was that he got a double — his first hit that wasn’t a home run. Then Kang hit a walk-off grand slam to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in a Grapefruit League game...
Ninth-inning rally propels Pirates past Twins
The Pittsburgh Pirates got a comeback victory thanks to a pair of minor-league call-ups and a backup. Zack Kone started a two-out rally in the top of the ninth, the Pirates tied the score on Logan Hill’s RBI single and Colin Moran’s single to center clinched a 6-5 victory over...
Pirates pitchers, Starling Marte lead way in win over Tigers
The Pittsburgh Pirates had to pitch their way out of jams to start and finish their game against the Detroit Tigers. Starling Marte hit into a run-scoring double play and scored a run to lead the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a Grapefruit League game...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Roethlisberger, Bell, Penguins’ bad weekend, Pirates infield
Thanks to an off-day, this week’s “Madden Monday” comes on a Tuesday. We get into: • Josh Harris’ accusation that Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose against the Bengals. Why is this information just coming out now? • Le’Veon Bell’s failed contract. The spin continues! LISTEN: Mark Madden, Tim Benz discuss...
Nick Kingham throws five scoreless innings as Pirates beat Rays
Nick Kingham did his best to put his stamp on the search for a fifth starter, pitching five scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kingham retired the first 11 batters he faced and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored off...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates make predictable moves but focus on future
The Pittsburgh Pirates made some predictable moves Monday by naming shortstop Erik Gonzalez and third baseman Jung Ho Kang starters over Kevin Newman and Colin Moran. That the decisions came down to defense is the obvious reaction, as Gonzalez and Kang provide more experience and better range on the left...
Pirates tab shortstop Erik Gonzalez, third baseman Jung Ho Kang as starters
The Pittsburgh Pirates named Erik Gonzalez and Jung Ho Kang their starters at shortstop and third base, respectively, general manager Neal Huntington told reporters on Monday. Gonzalez was competing with Kevin Newman, a former first-round pick. Kang beat out incumbent Colin Moran, whose range was an issue last season and...
Kevin Kramer, Ke’Bryan Hayes among latest round of cuts for Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their third round of spring training cuts on Monday, reducing their roster to 40 players. Second baseman Kevin Kramer was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was one of eight players reassigned to minor-league camp. Hayes, ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by...
Jameson Taillon strikes out six to lead Pirates past Red Sox
The Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled a lineup that might be a preview for Opening Day, and their ace looked like he was ready. Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who will start the opener on March 28 at Cincinnati, allowed four hits while striking out six without a walk in five innings as the...
Josh Harrison leads Tigers past Pirates
After parting ways with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Josh Harrison did damage against them for the Detroit Tigers. Batting leadoff, Harrison scored two runs and drove in another to lead the Tigers to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game in Lakeland, Fla. The...
Jung Ho Kang leads power surge for Pirates in spring game
Jung Ho Kang hit his fifth homer of the spring as the Pittsburgh Pirates tied the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-6, in a spring training game Friday in Bradenton, Fla. Starling Marte homered for the second straight game, and Josh Bell and Francisco Cervelli each hit their second homers of the...
5 Pirates hit home runs off Phillies, snap 6-game Grapefruit League losing streak
Five Pittsburgh Pirates hit home runs off the Philadelphia Phillies to snap a six-game skid in the Grapefruit League with a 11-2 victory Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. Trevor Williams allowed three hits and an unearned run but had four strikeouts with no walks in five innings. The...
Oddsmakers: Pirates have 125-1 chance of winning World Series
The Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to win 77.5 games and face 125-1 odds of winning the World Series this season, according to oddsmakers at SportsBettingDime.com. The site also projected the Houston Astros are 7-1 favorites to win the World Series, followed by the New York Yankees (8-1), Los Angeles Dodgers...
Jameson Taillon makes Grapefruit League debut, but Pirates lose to Twins
Jameson Taillon made his Grapefruit League debut, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking none in four innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Minnesota Twins, however, used a five-run ninth inning to cruise to a 10-4 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday at LECOM Park in...
Cole Tucker, Jason Martin among latest round of Pirates’ spring training cuts
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their second round of spring training cuts Tuesday, reducing their roster to 49 players. Shortstop Cole Tucker, outfielder Jason Martin and right-handed pitchers Jesus Liranzo and Aaron Slegers were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and right-hander Alex McRae was reassigned to minor-league camp. Tucker batted .389 with...
Nick Kingham rocked for 5 runs as Braves beat Pirates
The Atlanta Braves knocked Nick Kingham around Monday by scoring five runs on six hits and four walks in a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday in a Grapefruit League game in Orlando. Kingham got rocked in the first inning, allowing Ender Inciarte to hit a leadoff double followed...
Chris Archer throws three scoreless innings, but Yankees beat Pirates
Chris Archer had another strong start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, allowing only a pair of singles while striking out four batters with no walks in three innings against the New York Yankees. The Yankees won 6-5 in Grapefriut League action. Archer struck out Greg Bird with two runners...
Pirates pitchers shelled in 10-1 loss to Twins
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching couldn’t solve the Minnesota Twins’ hitters Saturday in a 10-1 loss in Bradenton, Fla. Starter Clay Holmes allowed three hits and three runs — two earned — in three innings, and reliever Keone Kela had a horrific inning in the fifth, giving up four hits and four...
Pirates option top prospect Mitch Keller to Triple-A Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first roster cut of spring training Saturday when they optioned their No. 1 prospect, pitcher Mitch Keller, to Triple-A Indianapolis. Keller, a 22-year-old right-hander who is ranked the No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline, allowed 10 runs (all earned) on 10 hits, including three home...
