Pirates/MLB category, Page 64
Pirates farm report for July 13, 2024: Henry Davis homers in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 39-49) dropped a 4-3 decision to Columbus (Guardians). DH Henry Davis (.291) hit a solo home run, his eighth of the season. C Jason Delay (.256) was 3 for 4 with an RBI. 3B Malcom Nunez (.253) was 1 for 4 with an RBI double. 2B Liover Peguero...
Pirates prospects Termarr Johnson, Bubba Chandler help National League defeat American League in Futures Game
The top prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system played a role in helping the National League defeat the American League, 6-1, on Saturday in the All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Second baseman Termarr Johnson, the Pirates’ top pick (fourth overall) in the 2022 draft,...
Luis Ortiz, Bryan Reynolds help Pirates beat White Sox, record 3rd victory in row
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton wisely loaded up his lineup with left-handed hitters Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field, knowing Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Flexen struggles against those who bat from that side. But analytics don’t always turn out as expected. That .945 OPS that Flexen has allowed to left-handers...
With Paul Skenes shining, Pirates under pressure to draft immediate help in 1st round
As the Pittsburgh Pirates bask in the buzz that surrounds Paul Skenes, who has gone from No. 1 overall pick to National League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, they enter the MLB Draft with a top-10 pick for the fifth consecutive year. With the No. 9 overall selection, however,...
Pirates bullpen coach’s nephew a top pitching prospect in MLB Draft
Justin Meccage has heard from people all over baseball in advance of the MLB Draft, in hopes the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen coach can offer some unique insight on a top-100 prospect. His nephew, Bryce Meccage, is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander who pairs an upper-90s fastball with two high-spin breaking pitches...
Pirates farm report for July 12, 2024: Domingo German picks up win for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 39-48) split a doubleheader with Columbus (Guardians). In the first game, a 5-2 Indianapolis win, RHP Domingo German (4-4, 5.36) started and went five innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. RHP Ben Heller (3.46) threw a scoreless...
Marco Gonzales picks up 1st win, leads Pirates in return from IL
It was anyone’s guess as to how Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Marco Gonzales’ first start in about three months would go Friday night against the Chicago White Sox. Taking the mound at Guaranteed Rate Field after being sidelined since mid-April because of a left forearm muscle strain, Gonzales returned to action...
‘Must-see TV’: Rookie Paul Skenes brings Pirates into spotlight as All-Star Game starterVideo
For two months, fans in Pittsburgh have been captivated by the performance of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. That’s not to say that outside of town, baseball fans, players and analysts haven’t taken notice of the mustachioed, 6-foot-6 rookie since he made his highly anticipated MLB debut May 11. But Tuesday...
Pirates activate pitchers Marco Gonzales, David Bednar from injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves ahead of Friday’s series-opening road game against the Chicago White Sox, reinstating pitchers Marco Gonzales and David Bednar from the injured list. The left-handed Gonzales will start Friday and make his first appearance since mid-April. Gonzales, 32, had been sidelined with...
Primanti Bros. honors Paul Skenes with meal deal for diners wearing mustaches — real or fake
Facial hair is in. At least at Primanti Bros. it is. To honor Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, the restaurant will offer a free classic sandwich to any diner with a mustache at 8 p.m. during Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Skenes was announced Friday as the starting pitcher for the...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes named starting pitcher for NL All-StarsVideo
Adding to his ever-growing list of accomplishments, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is set to become the first rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game in nearly three decades. On Friday, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced Skenes, recently chosen as a National League All-Star reserve, would take the hill,...
Mark Madden: With 2nd near no-hitter, Paul Skenes has burst onto scene like few others
Paul Skenes has been pulled twice while pitching a no-hitter: Once after six innings May 17 at Chicago, then Thursday after seven innings at Milwaukee. That speaks as loudly to baseball losing its romance as it does to Skenes’ dominance. A no-hitter used to be a pitcher’s pinnacle. That’s been...
NL manager Torey Lovullo gives candid response about Paul Skenes’ chances of starting the All-Star Game
When it comes to all the buzz surrounding the prospect of Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes starting the All-Star game, National League manager Torey Lovullo isn’t playing dumb. He’s heard it all. And the Arizona Diamondbacks bench boss may not be feeling the pressure just about starting Skenes. It...
Tim Benz: If pulling Paul Skenes was as easy as Derek Shelton says, it’s even easier to critique his decision
After the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1-0 win in Milwaukee on Thursday, manager Derek Shelton said it wasn’t a hard decision to pull rookie pitcher Paul Skenes with a no-hitter going after 11 strikeouts over seven innings. That better not be true. That decision should’ve at least given Shelton significant pause. Forget...
‘It’s critical, period’: Pirates stress importance of hitting on draft picks following the 1st round
With Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes becoming the first player in major-league history to go from No. 1 overall pick to the All-Star Game in the span of a year, it’s no wonder the focus of the MLB Draft is always on finding another generational talent. The Pittsburgh Pirates...
Pirates farm report for July 11, 2024: Po-Yu Chen fans 7 in 7 innings for Altoona
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-47) had a doubleheader with Columbus (Guardians) rained out. One game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Friday. The other is TBA. Next: Friday vs. Columbus (Guardians), doubleheader, 5:35 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 37-47) took care of Bowie (Orioles), 3-1, giving up a total of four...
Paul Skenes’ no-hit, 11-strikeout outing powers Pirates past Brewers for series win
When it comes to velocity, command and ability to sequence his pitches effectively, Paul Skenes continues to prove he has few equals across baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie and newly named first-time All-Star put all of those elite abilities on display Thursday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers, helping his club...
Pirates pull Paul Skenes after 7 no-hit innings against Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie starter Paul Skenes dazzled once again on the mound, this time on the road vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, no-hitting the opposition over seven innings Thursday. Skenes tied both his career-high in strikeouts (11) and innings pitched, throwing 99 pitches and lowering his ERA to 1.90 on the...
Frankie’s Fairy Tale: 80 years later, the story of Pittsburgh’s forgotten All-Star game and the Pirates’ anonymous All-Star player
On Tuesday, July 16 the 94th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. On July 11, 1944, the 12th MLB All-Star Game was played at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field — a little more than a month after the Allied Forces invaded Europe on...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans fire barbs at Steelers’ mediocrity, Penguins’ stagnation, Pirates’ frugality
Next week, we are on vacation here at “Breakfast With Benz.” Not just a long holiday weekend, or a couple of half days in a row to run errands, spruce up the backyard and drink beer on the porch. No, my friends. I’m talking about full-on, all-out, actually leaving the...
Pirates’ previously booming bats go silent in 9-0 loss to Brewers
More evidence surfaced Wednesday night that baseball is a strange, unpredictable game. Day to day, there’s no telling what might happen. One night after scoring double-digit runs (12) for the second time in the previous five games and slugging five home runs among their 11 hits, the Pirates managed only...
Pirates farm report for July 10, 2024: Henry Davis goes 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts in Indy loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 38-47) was held to five hits in a 3-1 loss to Columbus (Guardians). C Henry Davis (.302) went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. DH Seth Beer (.250) went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored. SS Liover Peguero (.269) went 1 for 4 with...
No joke, Jim Leyland became Pirates manager after surprisingly legit phone call that started his journey to the Hall of Fame
Jim Leyland was convinced the phone call that led to his first major-league managerial job — his initial step on the road to Cooperstown — was a joke. Not that he doubted his ability to manage in the majors. After all, he had been a minor-league manager for 11 seasons,...
Mark Madden: Don’t be duped. The Pirates will never spend what it takes
Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting said GM Ben Cherington would have the flexibility to add players (and payroll) before the July 30 MLB trade deadline if the situation dictated. The situation dictates, however marginally: The Pirates are three games out of the National League’s third and final wild card. The...
Tim Benz: This clear-cut skill has made Paul Skenes an All-Star in just 10 starts
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes deserves to be an All-Star based on merit since his promotion to the Major Leagues in May. From an entertainment perspective, he should be the starter in the game as well. There is one skill in particular that has made Skenes All-Star worthy: his...
