Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB category, Page 287
No snow this year, but another chilly home opener predicted for Pirates
If you are planning to attend the Pirates’ home opener Monday against St. Louis you’ll want to bring a jacket. And maybe a sweater. The forecast from the National Weather Service in Moon calls for temperatures that are colder than the average for April 1, with a high of 47...
3 things to watch from Pirates hitters this season
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a winning record last season, but it was obvious what held them back from greater heights: an offense ranked 20th in the majors in runs, 25th in home runs and 17th in OPS. This was illustrated by the combined .430 winning percentage of the five teams...
Melky Cabrera starts, homers to lead Pirates past Astros in final exhibition
Injuries have plagued the Pittsburgh Pirates in right field, where Gregory Polanco will miss the start of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery and Lonnie Chisenhall was out after being hit by a pitch Monday. That left the Pirates to start 15-year veteran Melky Cabrera in their final exhibition...
Free Smiley Cookie for fans wearing Pirates gear for home opener
Regardless of the outcome of Monday’s Pirates home opener, fans can get a sweet treat at Eat’n Park restaurants. Any fan who wears Buccos gear to a restaurant that day will get a free Smiley Cookie, the restaurant chain said. The promotion lasts all day at any of Eat’n Park’s...
Astros hit four home runs to rally past Pirates in exhibition game
The Pittsburgh Pirates blew a pair of leads as they surrendered four home runs, including a pair of three-run shots, in a 12-9 exhibition loss to the Houston Astros on Monday night at Minute Maid Park. The Pirates got off to a hot start against Houston’s Forrest Whitley in the...
Jose Osuna doesn’t make trip to Houston with Pirates because of ‘lower neck discomfort’
Jose Osuna did not make the trip to Houston with the Pittsburgh Pirates because of “lower neck discomfort,” the club said in a statement, and will return to Pittsburgh this week for further examination. Osuna, a first baseman-outfielder, slashed .154/.244/.231 with three doubles, no home runs and two RBIs, striking...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins, start of Pirates season, Tom Izzo ‘controversy’
There is a lot to get into for “Madden Monday” this week with Mark Madden of 105.9 the X. We start with the Penguins and the impact of recently acquired forward Denis Sav … uh, I mean … Jared McCann. How about that spin-o-rama goal he scored Saturday night in...
John Steigerwald: Remember the 1979 Pirates? You must be old
So, how old would you have to be to remember the last time the Pirates were in the World Series? I remember it well. I was 30 years old and had been working at WTAE for four months when they opened the 1979 season at Three Rivers Stadium on April...
Jung Ho Kang homers again as Pirates tie Orioles
Jung Ho Kang finished his final Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park the same way he started the spring: with a home run. The third baseman hit his seventh homer of spring training in the first inning off Andrew Cashner, as the Pittsburgh Pirates tied the Baltimore Orioles, 1-1, on...
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...
