We are one weekend into the season, and let’s just say things could have definitely gone better, both in the majors and at the Triple-A level.
The Major League team lost two of three games against the Cincinnati Reds, while the Triple-A team not only was swept, but allowed 28 total runs in just three games played.
Baseball is a long season, where there are going to be a lot of ups and downs. There are going to be weekends like this, which could immediately turn into things going the other way around.
The hope is, by time it is all said and done, you have more of those good days than bad days, and that people are improving throughout the season.
So, while it would be easy to get worked up, especially with how the last couple of seasons have gone, let things play out first.
Mike Burrows Solid, Not Spectacular
Sometimes, a win is just a win, right? It certainly won’t show up on the highlight reel, but Burrows got the job done for five innings and put himself in position to get the win. The bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, and his potential win was thrown out the window.
It’s early in the season, and pitchers are still getting stretched out and comfortable, but it certainly wasn’t the same Burrows we’ve come to expect. He forced his way into quite a few full counts, and stuff wasn’t quite up to his usual level.
His fastball is usually sits in the mid-90s and while he was up there at times, he was also all the way down to 91-92 at times as well. Not being able to get hitters to chase the curve and miss on the fastball led to Burrows just getting one strikeout across the five innings.
One start, one outing, but a decrease in velocity is always something to monitor going forward.
Mark Mathias Big Weekend
Acquired in the middle of Spring Training, Mathias was seemingly brought in potentially light a fire on the stagnant middle infielder picture. While he didn’t make the original Opening Day roster, that still seems to be the case.
Mathias played all three games over the weekend, played three different positions. He picked up seven hits, nearly double the next in line for Indianapolis.
Mark Mathias stays hot for Indianapolis. This hit his 5th in two games #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/Bu1I9ZlQQw
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) April 1, 2023
He has some offensive upside, as he posted a .940 OPS and 149 wRC+ in 58 games in Triple-A last year. Playing in another 28 games in the majors, he put up similar impressive numbers (138 wRC+, .847 OPS).
You don’t want to leave any stone unturned with the players currently on the major league roster, but it will be interesting what kind of opportunity Mathias gets with the Pirates.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By John Dreker
The Pirates are at Fenway Park tonight to take on the Boston Red Sox. Game time is 7:10 PM. Johan Oviedo will be on the mound. The lineups will be posted below once they become available. Indianapolis is off today.
**Pirates Recap: Home Runs Help the Reds to a Series Win
**Prospect Watch: Mike Burrows is Strong in Season Debut; Nick Gonzales Homers
**Pirates Claim Pitcher Edwin Uceta from Detroit Tigers; Brubaker to the 60-Day IL Pirates bring in a new arm
**Pirates DVR: Travis Swaggerty Double, Miguel Andujar RBI, Mark Mathias Hit
**Pirates Prospects Daily: Struggles Continue In Game Two For Indianapolis Indians
Song of the Day
Lineups
Shipping off to Boston.
📺 AT&T SportsNet
📻 93.7 The Fan | The PRN#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/X6eNUG2mno— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 3, 2023
Red Sox
Boston Red Sox lineup vs the Pirates
1. Alex Verdugo RF
2. Rafael Devers 3B
3. Justin Turner DH
4. Masataka Yoshida LF
5. Adam Duvall CF
6. Triston Casas 1B
7. Christian Arroyo 2B
8. Kiké Hernández SS
9. Connor Wong C
SP. Kutter Crawford— Boston Sports (@bahstonspahts) April 3, 2023
Anthony began writing over 10 years ago, starting a personal blog to cover the 2011 MLB draft, where the Pirates selected first overall. After bouncing around many websites covering hockey, he refocused his attention to baseball, his first love when it comes to sports. He eventually found himself here at Pirates Prospects in late 2021, where he covers the team’s four full season minor league affiliates.
“This is your Captain. We have landed and you may now unfasten your seatbelts! Hope you enjoyed the flight!” RAISE IT!
Nothing comes easy for the Pirates these days.
Raise it! Wasn’t pretty, but it was a victory.
Bednar with 2 Ks on curve balls. Interesting.
Raise it!
Trade for will bednar and setup the back of our pen for years
Tapia is an alias for jar jar binks.
Pitch out!!!
Let’s slam the door closed Bednar.
These are moments that Bednar lives for. Tight game at Fenway. I like our chances.
Haines is discussing Reynolds upcoming AB. Stop talking to him!
Cruz throwing to 1b is no longer the heartburn it used to be.
Thinking tonight woulda been a good night to put bednar in for the 8th and holdy for the 9th but glad it worked out!
I don’t know why DS pitched to Duval? A rookie on deck.
Figured Duval was due for regression.
When you get hot it usually lasts for more than 3 games. Smh??
Good question. I was waiting for the impending disaster.
It made no baseball or % sense.
Feels like something DS would do. In a season when the team should be more competitive, he needs to raise his managerial game….
Tell you what, I’m bringing Suwinki’s dad to a bar fight!
Solid work Underwood. Let’s get a few more runs!
There are moments where I find myself wishing that Cruz was the only one allowed to bat.
Man, this is the Cruz that I watch in Altoona.
Gonna be a test for the pen tonight… gotta hold it for a few more turns against a good lineup
Hernandez, Holderman, Bednar to finish. Do not bring Underdog out for the 7th……everyone knows that rule.
7-9 in the order, so Underwood got thru it. The difficult hitters to come in 8th, 9th.
Order of unreliability,
Crowe, DeJong, underwood, Hernandez, Moreta, Z, Holderman, Bednar. Not much separating 1-7.
I hate giving free balls and strikes…..without the pitcher even throwing.
Hate it when a RP comes in with ducks on the pond and walks the first batter.
I think he enjoys the thrill. Not good for my heart 😑
F*CK! Hayes is still freaking Hayes with the bat! 😤
Not good thus far.
I wish his launch angle could be adjusted somehow. Thought it did during spring training… now, not sure
Somehow Oviedo might make it to the 5th inning after a 3HR 30 pitch first inning! (I personally dont want him pitching another inning to #4 ,5,6 but who knows what Shelton will do)
Hill got hit hard in 1st inning too…….then held serve.
Dancing through rain drops.
Watching on NESN, the Red Sox announcers are much nicer to the Pirates than Dennis Eckersley was. They praised Cherington for his work with the Red Sox, and they feel he is doing a good job with the Pirates. Interesting…
This is exactly what this team needs to be able to do…..Hit and Win vs #4 and #5 and spot starters like this.
Wow. I was disappointed they couldnt take advantage of GABP but they’re making up to it
Not as disappointed as me since I drove 16 hours and spent a pretty penny to watch them lay a couple eggs.
Please tell me you watched the opening day game too… if you only watched the second or third one, that is so sad ☠️
So sad
Hahahaha…..violins…..
I deserve that one
Just having some fun, you deserved better. But you have earned Pirate fan of the Month for sure!
Next time drive 16 hours, you’ll see Roansy pitching a no hitter 🤞🏻
Pay that man his money!
Give that man a contract!
It’s been 4 games and I already hate the MLB.tv commercial. Repeating the same thing forever!
Agree. Hated it last year.
The highlight mix was the worst. I wish they just keep playing baseball zen thing which is quiet and non disturbing!
The Ween checking-in. I’ve enjoyed the 4 runs scored. 😊
Cruz missed a meatball, but Reynolds didn’t.
If Cruz hits a missile here, I might start feeling hopeful again
Or Reynolds! Feeling hopeful again!
Reynolds and Devers for the redemption shots ha
This shows that the WBC is largely a joke for all but 4-5 teams. Oviedo dominated for a couple innings with DR. Not in the show.
Edit that to ortiz
Thanks! You are right!
I ALWAYS get those two mixed up.
Two HR off the fastball…..now I’m beginning to see why many say he’s a reliever, just come out for an inning throwing nothing but sliders.
Zero strikeouts and zero groundouts through first seven batters is a formula for disaster. As we saw.
This is truly pathetic…
See, I understand the homeruns but what was that error?
Still trying to comprehend
Reynolds showing the world he belongs in LF permanently.
Maybe he should have gotten more reps in ST!
Maybe he should remember as a CF his job is to catch every fly ball he can get to.
“This is your Captain speaking: We’re going to be experiencing a lot of turbulence tonite. Please keep your seat belts fastened for everyone’s safety.”
Bad pitching. Bad defense.
Probably going to have to score 10 to win tonight.
Then is a lost, cause there’s no way we score 10!
Don’t underestimate how piss poor Red Sox pitching can be.
I now see what you mean ….
Worse than today’s version of Oviedo?
He’s settled in the last couple innings much better than their guy has.
Touché!
I’m glad he did
I would not be surprised if 10 turns out to be not enough
Jack working a walk is progress right.
Also, hi guys, it’s been almost a year and the site changed a lot! So… no subscriptions anymore? Login page shows it but can’t find it from anywhere else. I did “support” though!
Welcome back. It’s on the honor system now.
Tim writes less, but thankfully John, Wilbur, Anthony, Ethan, Jeff, and others do a great job.
Gotcha thanks for the answer 😊 I’ll be “support”ing…
Okay this is the live thread post?
How nice to see them score more than one run… 😉
Angie is back!!!
Thank you!! 🫡 It’s been hectic but I’m trying to follow the team more this year.
I wish gif section still existed so I could insert one here haha
The little black box for the GIF!
Weird, might not be visible from mobile version? I’ll try it later again 🤔
Scored as many as they did the last two games combined.
They knew you went back to GA.
CSN is going to be better than Jack, Cal, Travis, and every other OF not named Reynolds or Cutch.
Honestly I was never a big fan of Swaggerty and even thought at times he’s a bust but I still think he has better overall tools than others. I also think he’s better suited for the team. Possibly a good leadoff too?
What’s this a two out hit w RISP that scores a run?
Way to make em pay for giving us an extra out!
Ok, let’s hope Oviedo has a good FB and Hayes finds his ST stroke.
His old stroke but we’ll take it……this time.
My thoughts exactly!
Copying over my Burrows comments in case anyone has something to add:
Mike Burrows topping out at 95 is normal?
My brain was telling me he tends to ramp it up a few more. Not to say there isn’t more to the pitch but 93mph from a righty is below Major League average.
Impressive to see the confidence shown in his new changeup, highest-used secondary. The pitch itself, well, impressive to see his confidence in it.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=4/2/2023&gamePk=723603&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=pitcher&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=playerBreakdown&sportId=11#723603
I also thought he was 94-95 and topped 96-97 but I could be remembering wrong. Sitting 95 vs topping 95 is a big difference in his future imo
Everybody go listen to Prince burn that mother down.
I love how he just hangs out in the background letting the other lead guitar have his time in the spotlight, than comes out front to make sure everyone knew he was the Alpha Dog of this group.
Other than DeJong the bullpen held up well, the starting pitching while not great would have been fairly competent for a team with a good offense. Though it’s only three games the offense was exactly what’s it been for 3 years. We know Baltimore has a good offense but either Boston does too or the Orioles pitching sucks. Also the Pirates don’t seem to know what a clutch hit is still after three years so that hasn’t changed either.