All four full-season Pittsburgh Pirates affiliates were scheduled to open their season on Thursday night, but Indianapolis and Altoona were rained out. Indianapolis will make the game up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. West Virginia had their game suspended in the third inning. It will be finished before today’s game, which is now seven innings. Check out the Prospect Watch from last night. For a look at possible starters down the line, check out our Probable Starter Chart.
AAA: Indianapolis (0-0) @ Columbus (0-0) 7:15pm
Probable starter: Casey Sadler (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis was rained out
Casey Sadler gets the Opening Day assignment for Indianapolis. He made 23 starts for Altoona and one late season start for Indianapolis. Sadler threw a total of 136.1 innings, allowing 123 hits, 12 homers and 43 walks. He had 72 strikeouts, a 1.69 GO/AO ratio and a .244 BAA. In his lone Indianapolis start, he allowed three earned runs over six innings. Check out the Indianapolis season preview.
AA: Altoona (0-0) vs Erie (0-0) 6:30pm
Probable starter: Nick Kingham (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Altoona was rained out
Nick Kingham gets the Opening Day start for Altoona. He split last season between Altoona and Bradenton, making a total of 25 starts and two relief appearances. He pitched a total of 143.1 innings, giving up 125 hits, seven homers and 44 walks. Kingham had 144 strikeouts, a 2.89 ERA and a .233 BAA. He finished second to Tyler Glasnow in strikeouts among all pitchers in the Pirates farm system. Check out the Altoona season preview.
High-A: Bradenton (0-1) @ Charlotte (1-0) 6:30pm
Probable starter: Chad Kuhl (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: Charlotte 5, Bradenton 4
Chad Kuhl will get the start for Bradenton tonight. He was drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round last year and spent the season with Jamestown. Kuhl made 13 starts there, throwing a total of 55.1 innings, with 53 hits allowed, no homers and six walks. He struck out 33, had a 1.19 GO/AO ratio and a .255 BAA. Kuhl is a 21-year-old right-hander out of the University of Delaware. Check out the Bradenton season preview.
Low-A: West Virginia (0-0) @ Lexington (0-0) 5:05pm DH
Probable starter: Buddy Borden (NR)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia’s game was suspended
Buddy Borden will pitch for West Virginia today. It’s possible he could start the completion of yesterday’s game. He was the seventh round draft pick of the Pirates last year. Borden made three starts and three relief appearances for Jamestown. In 16.2 innings, he allowed ten hits, no homers and walked five batters. Borden struck out 23 batters in his short time, while holding hitters to a .169 average. The two teams will finish yesterday’s game prior to the regularly scheduled game. The score will be 2-1 Lexington in the top of the third inning. Check out the West Virginia season preview.
Recent Transactions
3/29: Quincy Latimore and Erick Fernandez released.
3/27: Traded a player to be named later in exchange for Keon Broxton.
3/25: Acquired Vance Worley in exchange for cash.
3/22: Six minor league players released. Carlos Mesa, Cesar Lopez, Axel Diaz, Elvin Ramirez, Kirk Singer and Eliecer Navarro.
3/20 Zac Fuesser, Ethan Hollingsworth, Kevin Kleis and Dalton Friend released.
