I added the Playoff Push section back today for the minor league teams. The Pirates still have 62 games left in the season, so it’s a little too early to add them in there as well, but I will soon. As for now, you can see below that there are quite a few good chances for playoff baseball, which means extra high intensity games for prospects, and some players getting late promotions to teams that could make it.
One interesting note is on the GCL Pirates. They are leading their division, but they also have a losing record. With all of the high profile high school pitchers on the team this season, it wouldn’t be bad getting a couple of them an extra start in the playoffs. Of note, I was trying to figure out how many more starts second round pick Travis MacGregor had left and it was right on the line between 5-6. It’s tough to tell exactly because there is a day off each week and sometimes they won’t go every five days/games.
If you missed it yesterday, MacGregor threw five shutout innings in his fifth start. He will be capped at five innings, so assuming he doesn’t get knocked out early in any games, he could possibly get in 45 innings this season. That’s one of the advantages of signing early after the draft. Back in the day, some players would even get in any time, while a player like Austin Shields, who signed right before the deadline this year, hasn’t thrown a game yet. We will have something on him soon. Of course, if the timing worked out, Shields could make a playoff start/appearance.
We already know Bradenton made the playoffs and West Virginia has a tough climb. Last time I wrote about it, I thought Ke’Bryan Hayes could be a possible player who gets moved up. That would likely depend on his back and when he comes back. I originally saw it as a chance to get him acclimated to High-A, but now (if healthy) it could be a good way to get him some extra games to make up for what he missed.
Mitch Keller is an unlikely promotion due to his innings total being too high. I wouldn’t even guarantee he starts through the end of the season, or if he does, he might be limited to 4-5 innings each time. Gage Hinsz has emerged as a possibility, especially with all of the improvements to his game, he could be a player who moves up for the playoffs. Getting a late start, he should still have some innings to work with at the end of the season. Of course, they’re trying to still win their own division, so I doubt that is being discussed yet.
Altoona leading their division brings up an interesting scenario with Bradenton guaranteed to make the playoffs. You will have players from Indianapolis being called up to the Pirates right before the season ends. Usually those roles are filled by Altoona players and those 26th men that hang around teams. Remember Juan Diaz from Spring Training? He’s still around. Chris Diaz is still an extra as well. Between them and Elias Diaz being hurt most of the year, not a good year to be a Diaz. Want more proof? Lefty Luis Diaz was a low-priced signing who really blossomed when the Pirates signed him last June. He was scheduled to make his pro debut this year in the DSL, but he’s been out all year with a shoulder injury.
Back to the playoff subject, and you may see some players from West Virginia move up just because Bradenton will be short-handed. That’s the trickle down effect from the Pirates calling up players on September 1st.
One more reason I added the Playoff Push section back, and it’s that the minor league season ends in 39 days. Bet you didn’t realize it was that close. In fact, four of the teams end on September 5th, while the other four end sooner. The DSL season ends on August 27th and they will be the first team eliminated from the playoffs, but I’ll keep updating until they are officially out. The GCL season ends September 1st, as well as Bristol’s season. Bradenton ends on the 4th with a morning start time. Of course, they are they only team guaranteed to play after the 5th right now, so that’s just the end of their regular season.
Both the Morning Report and the Prospect Watch will run until the end of the playoffs. That was September 19th last year for both features, with the regular season ending on September 7th (two days later than this year). If you opened this article thinking I meant Pirates playoffs, well feel free to discuss it in the comments. I’m waiting until after the trading deadline (August 1st this year) to add them below in the Playoff Push.
PLAYOFF PUSH
Indianapolis is tied for second place in their division, trailing by five games. They trail by 11 games for the lone wild card spot.
Altoona leads their division by one game. The top two teams in the division go to the playoffs, with the first place team getting the home field advantage in the first round.
Bradenton won the first half title. They have home field advantage in the playoffs.
West Virginia is in sixth place in their division, trailing first by three games.
Morgantown is in third place in their division, trailing first place by six games. They are five games back for the lone wild card spot.
Bristol is in fourth place, trailing by 2.5 games. The top two teams in each division go to the playoffs.
The GCL Pirates lead their division by two games. This is the only league where you have to win your division to make the playoffs.
The DSL Pirates trail their division by 15.5 games. They trail in the wild card by 15.5 games.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates won 10-1 on Wednesday night over the Mariners. They have off today before starting a weekend series in Milwaukee. Steven Brault is scheduled to get the start on Friday. He will need to be added to the active roster before the game.
In the minors, three top 30 prospects are pitching, with Frank Duncan in Indianapolis, Brandon Waddell going for Altoona and Stephen Tarpley starting for Bradenton. Duncan last pitched on July 17th, going on the disabled list with a minor thumb injury after that start. He will need to be activated before the game. Waddell allowed one run over six innings in his last start. Tarpley should be well rested for this start. In his last outing six days ago, the game was suspended after one inning due to rain.
The GCL Pirates will go with Domingo Robles, while Blake Cederlind is scheduled to start for Bristol in one of their doubleheader games.
MLB: Pittsburgh (52-48) @ Brewers (43-56) 8:10 PM 7/29
Probable starter: Steven Brault (2.25 ERA, 2:5 BB/SO, 4.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (53-52) @ Gwinnett (48-56) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Frank Duncan (2.58 ERA, 10:54 BB/SO, 66.1 IP)
AA: Altoona (58-45) @ Trenton (64-40) 7:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (4.20 ERA, 40:56 BB/SO, 75.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (53-47) @ St Lucie (53-46) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Stephen Tarpley (4.43 ERA, 27:61 BB/SO, 65.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (51-50) vs Delmarva (55-46) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Logan Sendelbach (3.26 ERA, 28:72 BB/SO, 105.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (19-19) @ Auburn (16-22) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable Starter: TBD
Rookie: Bristol (15-18) vs Elizabethton (16-17) 6:00 PM DH(season preview)
GCL: Pirates (14-15) vs Tigers East (10-18) 12:00 PM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates (16-29) vs Cubs1 (18-27) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is the fifth hit of the day from Stetson Allie. This double eventually led to him scoring on a walk-off wild pitch.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
7/26: Eric Fryer reinstated from paternity list. Elias Diaz optioned to Indianapolis.
7/25: Ke’Bryan Hayes placed on the disabled list.
7/24: Tyler Glasnow placed on disabled list. A.J. Schugel recalled.
7/23: Tyler Glasnow recalled. A.J. Schugel optioned to Indianapolis.
7/23: Eric Fryer placed on paternity list. Elias Diaz recalled.
7/22: Erik Kratz clears waivers. Elects free agency.
7/21: Chris Diaz placed on temporary inactive list.
7/20: Jose Regalado assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
7/20: Ryan Vogelsong assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
7/19: Francisco Cervelli activated from disabled list. Erik Kratz designated for assignment.
7/19: Jameson Taillon activated from disabled list. Chad Kuhl optioned to Indianapolis.
7/19: Frank Duncan placed on disabled list.
7/19: Elias Diaz assigned to Indianapolis.
7/19: Justin Topa assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
7/17: Jonathan Schwind assigned to Altoona.
7/16: Elias Diaz assigned to Altoona on rehab.
7/16: Gerrit Cole activated from the disabled list. Josh Bell optioned to Indianapolis.
7/15: Pirates sign Austin Shields. Assigned to GCL Pirates.
7/15: Pirates sign Boomer Synek. Assigned to GCL Pirates.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Three former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus two trades of note. We start with the players and two of them were born on this date in 1867 and they both pitched for the 1890 team, which was the worst in franchise history. Duke Esper and Bill Day couldn’t help a team that went 23-113, as they combined to go 0-8 in their eight starts. Esper also pitched for the Pirates in 1892 and went 2-0 in three starts for a much better team. The other player born on this date is Carmelo Martinez, who joined the Pirates 100 years after the other two players. He was with two pennant winners during the 1990-91 seasons He didn’t last long with the Pirates, who acquired him at the end of August 1990 and traded him away the following May.
The trades on this date include first baseman Gus Suhr for pitcher Max Butcher, which was a one-sided deal as far as career stats, with Suhr being one of the best first baseman in team history. In 1939, he was near the end of his career and the Pirates shipped him to the Phillies for Butcher. The Pirates got 67 wins out of Butcher during his time in Pittsburgh, while Suhr played just 70 games before he was released.
The other trade on this date was in 2000, when the Pirates dealt outfielder Wil Cordero to the Indians for infielder Enrique Wilson and outfielder Alex Ramirez. Wilson didn’t stay long, as he was dealt to the Yankees the following season for Damaso Marte. Ramirez struggled in his time in Pittsburgh and was sold to Japan that off-season. Between the majors, minors and Japan, he hit 505 career homers.
One game of note and it’s from the 2001 season, when the Pirates trailed 8-2 to the Astros in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no one on base. They managed to score seven runs, capping it off with a walk-off grand slam from Brian Giles. The Pirates had five hits, a walk and a hit by pitch. Here is the boxscore from that game and a description can be found in the link above.
