Six teams are on the schedule today. Both the GCL and DSL Pirates are off on Sundays. The probable starters for the top five affiliates today are the same pitchers that went on Tuesday for each team. Both Luis Heredia and Joely Rodriguez go today. They were both ranked among the top 15 prospects in the Pirates system coming into this year, but neither has pitched up to those standards. Check out the Prospect Watch from last night. All minor league transactions over the last month can be found at the bottom of the page. Click the link on each pitcher’s name for more information.
AAA: Indianapolis (48-41) @ Louisville (46-43) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Adam Wilk (6-7, 4.58)
Yesterday’s Result: Louisville 8, Indianapolis 3
Adam Wilk will make his 17th start. He has also pitched once in relief. Wilk has thrown a total of 96.1 innings this season, allowing 107 hits and 12 homers, both the highest totals for any Pirates minor league pitcher. He has 69 strikeouts, an 0.85 GO/AO ratio and a .286 BAA. In his last start, he gave up four runs(two earned) on eight hits and two walks in six innings, while striking out eight batters.
AA: Altoona (33-54) vs Harrisburg (33-52) 6:00pm
Probable starter: Joely Rodriguez (4-7, 4.38)
Yesterday’s Result: Altoona 7, Harrisburg 4
Joely Rodriguez will make his 17th start of the season tonight. He has thrown a total of 88.1 innings, allowing 89 hits, four homers and 27 walks. He has 47 strikeouts, a 1.58 GO/AO ratio and a .266 BAA. In his last start, he went five innings, allowing four runs. Rodriguez gave up just one hit and one run over seven innings in his previous outing. He has a 3.45 ERA at home this year and it’s nearly two full points higher(5.44) on the road. He came into the season as the Pirates 15th best prospect, but will almost assuredly drop in the pre-season rankings next year without a strong finish to his season. He has shown good control, limited hits and kept the ball on the ground, but his 4.8 SO/9 ratio is one of the worst in the system.
High-A: Bradenton (44-41, 9-7 2nd half) @ Palm Beach (48-38) 1:05pm
Probable starter: Orlando Castro (6-4, 3.24)
Yesterday’s Result: Palm Beach 4, Bradenton 1
Orlando Castro will make his 16th start of the season today. He has allowed one run on eight hits over 19 innings in his last three starts combined. Castro had two poor outings in early June, otherwise he has been one of the best pitchers in the Pirates system this year. He gave up 12 runs on 20 hits in 8.1 innings during those two games. In his other games combined, he has a 2.23 ERA over 80.2 innings. Castro has allowed 10 walks all season and the southpaw is holding right-handed batters to a .210 BAA.
Low-A: West Virginia (29-56, 8-8 2nd half) @ Greensboro (56-31) 4:00pm
Probable starter: Luis Heredia (1-2, 4.54)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 5, Greensboro 1
Luis Heredia will make his ninth start of the season tonight. In his last outing, he gave up five runs on nine hits and two walks in six innings against Hickory. Heredia has an 18/21 BB/K ratio this year in 35.2 innings. Prior to that Hickory start, and after he just pitched six shutout innings against Delmarva, we posted this article about how Heredia seems to be headed in the wrong direction. He looked like a much better pitcher during the 2013 season for West Virginia, so the results this year at the same level aren’t shocking. Heredia is still just 19 years old, turning 20 in early August.
Short-Season A: Jamestown (8-14) @ State College (15-7) 6:05pm
Probable Starter: Tyler Eppler (0-0, 3.38)
Yesterday’s Result: State College 3, Jamestown 2
Tyler Eppler will make his fifth start since signing with the Pirates as their sixth round draft pick this year. He went four innings in his last outing, giving up three runs on seven hits. He had five strikeouts in that game, matching his total from his first three starts combined. Eppler has already faced State College twice, allowing one run over four innings this first time and three runs(two earned) over five innings in the second game.
RK: Bristol (3-12) @ Greeneville (7-9) 6:00pm
Yesterday’s Result: Pulaski 11, Bristol 7
Check out the Bristol season preview.
GCL: Pirates (7-7) vs Yankees1 (12-2) 12:00pm 7/7
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates 7, Braves 6
Check out the GCL Pirates season preview.
DSL: Pirates (12-19) vs Yankees2 (19-12) 10:30am 7/7
Yesterday’s Result: Yankees2 7, Pirates 4
Check out the DSL Pirates fourth week recap.
Recent Transactions
7/5: Tyler Waldron placed on disabled list. John Holdzkom assigned to Indianapolis.
7/5: Dean Anna assigned to Indianapolis.
7/4: Jarek Cunningham placed on DL. Jeff Inman sent to Altoona.
7/3: Justin Maffei and Ashley Ponce promoted to Bradenton.
7/3: Bradenton placed Jonathan Schwind and Taylor Lewis on the disabled list.
7/3: Danny Collins and Francisco Diaz activated from disabled list.
7/3: Clario Perez promoted to West Virginia. Andy Otamendi assigned to Jamestown.
7/3: Austin Meadows assigned to Bristol.
7/1: Andy Otamendi assigned to West Virginia.
7/1: Connor Joe placed on temporary inactive list.
6/30: Austin Meadows, Barrett Barnes and Collin Balester assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
6/28: Stetson Allie activated from disabled list.
6/28: Omir Santos activated from disabled list. Brent Morel placed on disabled list.
6/28: JaCoby Jones activated from disabled list. Wyatt Mathisen placed on disabled list.
6/28: Nate Baker and Dan Gamache assigned to Jamestown on rehab.
6/28: Pirates release Alexander Gutierrez.
6/27: Jandy Vasquez played on 60-day disabled list.
6/26: Dan Gamache assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
6/26: Adalberto Santos traded to San Francisco Giants.
6/26: Danny Collins placed on disabled list. Justin Topa activated from West Virginia disabled list.
6/25: John Holdzkom assigned to Altoona roster.
6/25: Walker Gourley activated from Bradenton disabled list.
6/25: A.J. Morris placed on disabled list. Jhonathan Ramos promoted to Indianapolis.
6/24: Nate Baker added to GCL roster on rehab assignment.
6/23: JaCoby Jones and Justin Topa placed on West Virginia disabled list. Zack Von Rosenberg activated from disabled list.
6/23: Jeff Roy and Ashley Ponce sent to West Virginia. Candon Myles sent to Jamestown.
6/23: Ulises Montilla added to 60-day disabled list.
6/21: Jason Townsend assigned to Altoona from Jamestown. Matt Benedict sent to Bradenton.
6/20: Stetson Allie placed on disabled list. Kelson Brown activated from disabled list.
6/20: Carlos Paulino assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
6/20: Jake Brigham activated from disabled list.
6/19: Jared LaKind assigned to Jamestown
6/18: Pirates release Cody Eppley.
6/17: Jason Townsend sent to Jamestown on rehab assignment.
6/12: Nick Kingham promoted to Indianapolis. Kenn Kasparek added to Altoona roster.
6/12: Pat Ludwig promoted to Altoona. Robby Rowland activated from Bradenton disabled list.
6/10: Gregory Polanco promoted to Majors. Brent Morel activated from disabled list.
6/9: Pirates release Cameron Griffin, Mitch Slauter, Mike Spano and Beau Wallace.
6/8: Walker Gourley placed on disabled list. D.J. Crumlich activated from Bradenton disabled list.
