Today is one of those days when you have a lot of good pitching to follow. Wilfredo Boscan isn’t really considered a prospect due to his age and his average stuff on the mound, but as far as pure pitching, he’s probably the best right now at Indianapolis. This is his tenth minor league season, so he has been through a lot. If the Pirates were just looking for a spot start from one starter right now, I think he would probably be the safest choice. After being called up three times last year and not getting into a game, he would probably pitch with a little chip on his shoulder, just trying to prove why he belongs. I’m just guessing that he isn’t going to be intimidated by the big league surroundings, partially due to his demeanor on the mound and partially due to the fact he’s at least been in the bullpen for some Major League games.
Boscan is going to do his thing today, but there are three other reasons everyone will/should be following along. Brandon Waddell making his third start for Altoona is the first reason. Stephen Tarpley making his second start for Bradenton is reason two. Mitch Keller just making a start is the third reason. Waddell and Keller were named the Pitcher of the Month for April in their respective leagues and they haven’t slowed down one bit in May. Tarpley was out with an oblique injury and he’s just trying to get back into the swing of things. All three pitchers are in the top 21 in our Prospect Guide.
We start with Keller because he has an 0.78 ERA, which ranks second in the South Atlantic League, trailing a relief pitcher who is 4 1/2 years older than him. His 0.59 WHIP is easily the best in the league. He trails the league leader by two strikeouts, so sometime around the first inning, he should take over that first place spot. Keller’s worst start this season is two runs on five hits in six innings. That would be the best outing for some pitchers. His best starts have been dominating performances since the opening pitch. Basically, he is showing why the Pirates spent seven-figures on his draft bonus.
Tarpley didn’t have a bad start in his debut on Tuesday, but he did leave after four innings due to a high pitch count and a limited pitch count for the game. He gave up just one earned run on two hits and two walks, striking out three batters. I’m sure most people have high expectations for Keller’s start today, but for Tarpley, you just want to see him get through five innings with a decent pitching line and build up his pitch count. Anything on top of that should be considered extra. I’m sure he would like to do better, but I’ll save my higher expectations for his fourth start (and after) when he should be at his normal pitch count.
Waddell has looked good in both of his outings for Altoona and today he is facing a team with a 10-25 record, losers of nine in a row. If you combine his stats for two teams, he has a 1.28 ERA, a 4:34 BB/SO ratio, a .152 BAA, an 0.61 WHIP and a 1.43 GO/AO ratio. There isn’t a single number in there that isn’t very impressive, especially when you consider at this time last year he still had a month of college baseball left. A pitcher on a terrific run facing an opponent playing poorly could equal another big outing for Waddell today.
** After 37 games last year, the Pirates had a 17-20 record, and as I’m sure everyone knows, they finished with 98 win. This year they are 18-17 right now. I used the 37 game mark from last year for a reason. That 20th loss was against the Cubs, a 4-1 defeat. The pitchers were Gerrit Cole and Jon Lester that day, who happen to be today’s starters in Chicago. Just a coincidence and a little perspective on how early it is still this season.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates lost 8-2 to the Cubs on Saturday afternoon. Gerrit Cole gets the ball today against Jon Lester, trying to salvage one game of the series. He faced the Cubs on May 2nd and allowed five runs over 4.2 innings. In his last outing, Cole gave up two runs over six innings against the Cardinals. Lester has a 1.96 ERA in seven starts, with a 1.02 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 46 innings. He threw 5.2 shutout innings against the Pirates on May 4th.
In the minors, three top pitching prospects get the start. Not to be outdone, Wilfredo Boscan gets the start for Indianapolis, coming off three starts in which he allowed one run over 17 total innings. As for the prospects you read about up top, Brandon Waddell makes his third start for Altoona, Stephen Tarpley gets his second start for Bradenton and Mitch Keller looks to continue his dominance of the South Atlantic League.
MLB: Pittsburgh (18-17) @ Cubs (27-8) 2:20 PM
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (3.78 ERA, 12:32 BB/SO, 33.1 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (17-17) @ Scranton/WB (20-17) 1:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Wilfredo Boscan (1.59 ERA, 3:27 BB/SO, 34.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (19-17) @ Richmond (10-25) 12:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (2.03 ERA, 2:8 BB/SO, 13.1 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (17-18) @ Palm Beach (15-22) 1:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Stephen Tarpley (2.25 ERA, 2:3 BB/SO, 4.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (18-16) @ Lakewood (14-20) 1:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Mitch Keller (0.79 ERA, 3:42 BB/SO, 34.0 IP)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is the last out of Frank Duncan’s six shutout innings in his debut for Indianapolis. He allowed just one base runner, coming off a third inning single.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
5/13: Pirates release Daniel Bard.
5/13: Kyle Lobstein optioned to Indianapolis. Pittsburgh Pirates recall Cole Figueroa.
5/12: Cesilio Pimentel activated from West Virginia disabled list. Julio Vivas assigned to Extended Spring Training.
5/9: Mel Rojas Jr. traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
5/8: Cole Tucker added to West Virginia Power roster. Logan Ratledge assigned to Extended Spring Training.
5/7: Billy Roth added to West Virginia Power roster.
5/6: Jung-ho Kang activated from disabled list.
5/6: Mel Rojas Jr. assigned to Extended Spring Training.
5/5: Jason Rogers optioned to Indianapolis.
5/2: Jason Creasy placed on disabled list. Brandon Waddell promoted to Altoona
5/2: Tate Scioneaux promoted to Bradenton.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Four former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including a pitcher that played nine seasons for the team and the franchise’s first 20-game winner. Also on this date, Roberto Clemente had a huge game in Cincinnati.
On this date in 1967, Clemente went 4-for-5 with three homers and drove in seven runs. The Pirates scored seven runs on the day and lost 8-7 in ten innings, despite one of the best games of his entire career. He would have another three home run game near the end of the 1969 season and the Pirates won that game by a 10-5 score. You can find the boxscore of the 1967 game here.
Among the players born on this date, Al McBean played for the 1961-68 Pirates, then after playing for the Padres and Dodgers, he returned during the 1970 season. He pitched 376 games for the Pirates, 75 as a starter. McBean won 65 times and picked up 59 saves for Pittsburgh. He had a 3.08 ERA in 1,016 innings.
Harry Salisbury, 1882 pitcher who won 20 games during the first season of the franchise. He started 38 games and pitched 38 complete games. That not only ended up being his only season with the team, it was his last season in the big leagues.
Also born on this date, outfielder Jimmy Wasdell (1942-43) and 1916 shortstop Jimmy Smith. Wasdell was one of four players acquired from the Dodgers in the Arky Vaughan deal at the end of 1941. He was sold to the Phillies after four early season pinch-hit appearances in 1943. Smith split time at shortstop with Honus Wagner at the beginning of the 1916 season. Wagner would play first base at times, while Smith took his spot at shortstop. After hitting .188 through early June, Smith was sent to the minors.
