Today’s starters include four pitchers who are all still looking for their first win of the season. Two of those pitchers, Joely Rodriguez and Andy Oliver, will be the first Pirates pitchers to make their fourth start of the year. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. A full recap of yesterday’s action can be found here.
AAA: Indianapolis (10-5) @ Louisville (8-6) 6:35pm
Probable starter: Andy Oliver (0-0, 2.93)
Yesterday’s Result: Louisville 5, Indianapolis 4 in 10 innings
Andy Oliver will be making his fourth start of the season tonight. He started the season off great, throwing shutouts in each of his first two outings. On Opening Day, he threw six shutout innings, giving up two hits and three walks. He went five innings in his second start, allowing three hits and three walks. Oliver ran into trouble in his last start, giving up five runs over 4.1 innings. It was his first road start and second appearance against Columbus. He has had trouble in the past with control and in each of his three starts this year, he has walked three batters. Oliver struck out eight batters in his last outing.
AA: Altoona (6-8) @ Harrisburg (8-6) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Tyler Waldron (0-2, 4.50)
Yesterday’s Result: Harrisburg 5, Altoona 4
Tyler Waldron will be making his third start of the season tonight. He has picked up losses in each of his two outings, though he pitched well in his second game. Waldron allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk in six innings during his season debut. In his last outing, he went six innings again, this time giving up just two runs on six hits and a walk. Waldron got 11 outs via ground balls in his debut, but in his second outing he had a 5/6 GO/AO ratio.
High-A: Bradenton (2-12) VS Palm Beach (9-5) 6:30pm
Probable starter: Adrian Sampson (0-0, 6.43)
Yesterday’s Result: Palm Beach 4, Bradenton 3
Adrian Sampson will get his third start of the season tonight. He had a rough outing in his first start against Ft Myers, giving up six runs(three earned) on seven hits and one walk in just 2.2 innings. He was a little better in his next outing, going 4.1 innings against St Lucie. He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. He has struck out five batters between his two outings. This will be Sampson’s third straight start at home.
Low-A: West Virginia (7-8) VS Hagerstown (8-7) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Joely Rodriguez (0-1, 6.00)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 7, Hagerstown 4
Joely Rodriguez will get his fourth start of the season tonight. He threw five strong innings in his opener, giving up two runs, while striking out eight batters. Rodriguez lasted four innings in his second outing, allowing four runs(three earned) on two walks and five hits, two of which were home runs. He lasted six innings in his third outing, but gave up five runs on eight hits and three walks. The 21-year-old lefty has allowed three homers, despite posting a 2.30 GO/AO ratio.
