Big day for prospects on the mound today, with the top two pitchers in the system both going. Not only are Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon going today though, Nick Kingham also gets the start for Bradenton, giving the Pirates three top ten players all starting on the same day. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. We have added a Recent Transactions section to the bottom of this page, for all Pirates minor league transactions. A full recap of yesterday’s action can be found here.
AAA: Indianapolis (31-13) @ Pawtucket (25-18) 1:05pm
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (3-1, 2.55)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 6, Pawtucket 3
Gerrit Cole will make his ninth start of the season today. He started the year off slow with high pitch count problems, but recently he has been much more efficient, working at least six innings in each of his last four starts. He has pitched better on the road this year, going 1-0, 1.86 in 19.1 innings over three starts. Cole has a 1.42 GO/AO ratio and a .204 BAA. Right-handed batters have had a lot of trouble against him, hitting .134 in 67 AB’s. He has had an odd season long strikeout pattern going, picking up either two or five strikeouts in all eight starts this year.
AA: Altoona (19-23) @ Richmond (20-20) 6:05pm
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (2-4, 2.82)
Yesterday’s Result: Richmond 5, Altoona 3
Jameson Taillon will get his ninth start of the season today. He threw six shutout innings in his last start, the third time this year he didn’t allow a run in his start. Two of those shutout starts were against today’s opponent, Richmond. He also faced them a third time in Richmond and didn’t have similar success, allowing five runs in six innings. In 44.2 innings this season, he has given up 39 hits, one homer, 16 walks and he has 47 strikeouts. Taillon has a 1.21 GO/AO ratio and a .229 BAA. On the road this year, he is 1-1, 4.50 in three games. At home, he has a 2.05 ERA.
High-A: Bradenton (16-26) vs St Lucie (24-16) 1:00pm
Probable starter: Nick Kingham (4-2, 3.79)
Yesterday’s Result: St Lucie 10, Bradenton 0
Nick Kingham will make his ninth start of the year this afternoon. He is coming off his worst start of the season. On Tuesday, he recorded just two outs before being replaced, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks. Prior to that game he had won four straight starts, including a 13 strikeout performance on 4/28 against Brevard County. He has 49 strikeouts this year in 40.1 innings, the second highest total in the FSL, training Nick Hernandez of Clearwater by one. Kingham has walked only nine batters all season, and not more than two in any game.
Low-A: West Virginia (21-21) VS Lexington (21-21) 2:05pm
Probable starter: Jake Burnette (0-0, 4.91)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 3, Lexington 2(game one) Lexington 6, West Virginia 4(game two)
Jake Burnette will make his second start of the season today. In his season opener six days ago, he went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits(one homer) and three walks. He struck out seven batters. Burnette pitched five games for State College last year before being shutdown due to elbow soreness. He went 1-2, 4.71 in 22 innings and recorded eight strikeouts, just one more than he had in his season debut this year.
Recent Transactions
5/18 Jeff Karstens added to Altoona roster.
5/16 Clay Holmes activated from DL. Josh Smith assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/16 Chase d’Arnaud assigned to Bradenton on rehab.
5/16 Cesar Lopez sent to Extended Spring Training. Kurt Yacko assigned to Bradenton roster
5/13 Jake Burnette added to West Virginia roster. Clay Holmes placed on DL.
