The Pittsburgh Pirates (20-14) take on the Toronto Blue Jays (20-14) in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, with first pitch at 1:35 PM.
Roansy Contreras (3-2, 4.09) takes on 31-year-old lefty Yusei Kikuchi (4-0, 4.02), who is making his seventh start of the season.
There could be some rain today, so that start time is tentative.
Once again, Andrew McCutchen is out of the lineup (see below)
The Colorado Rockies come into town for three games, starting tomorrow.
UPDATE: This game will not be starting on time. Also, Ben Cherington said that he believes Vince Velasquez is a short-term issue and he won’t miss much time. As for right now, he said Tuesday’s starter is still TBA.
**Here’s the recap of yesterday’s game, in case you want to relive that game that was basically over in the first inning.
**Anthony Murphy takes a look at the Greensboro outfield this morning.
**Last night’s Prospect Watch article.
**Yesterday’s weekly look at how the draft is shaping up.
Here’s yesterday’s umpire scorecard. It was as bad as the game. If they sent umpires to the minors based on results, this guy would be on his way to (insert name of Triple-A city here).
Umpire: Carlos Torres
Final: Blue Jays 8, Pirates 2#NextLevel // #LetsGoBucs#TORvsPIT // #PITvsTORMore stats for this game 👇https://t.co/IOMiCAGt8X pic.twitter.com/UrfvoOzQQj
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) May 7, 2023
LINEUPS
Pirates
Some Sunday baseball up next.
📺 AT&T SportsNet
📷 93.7 The Fan | The PRN #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/4w5V6GxH6Y— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 7, 2023
Blue Jays
The brooms are out! 🧹 #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/k3GArG2Mnr
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 7, 2023
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
I suppose there’s no better way to end such a horrible streak than with today’s ‘stinker.’ The whole team should be sent to the showers, and then douse themselves with cologne.
PAIN!!!!
de jong is toast
this might be the last major league inning of his career
#freeFlowers
Well they need to make some moves to put a spark in this dead lineup, Palacios is hitting well, and Davis or Endy or Gonzalez could help.
Bring up the whole Indy, or for that matter Altoona, roster. They’d have a hard time being any worse than this. This whole lineup is sound asleep and no doubt Shelton’s back in the clubhouse somewhere guzzling some of his beloved bourbon.
I guess I should be excited they got the tying run to the plate. Small victories in the midst of a 0 for week of baseball.
Kiermeier is worth every cent of that $9M one year contract.
where were we on that veteran presence?
Minor league side has wrapped up already, though it’s not really much more exciting than this game https://www.piratesprospects.com/2023/05/prospect-watch-eight-run-inning-leads-greensboro-to-victory.html
Is it too early to start talking about the 2024 draft? The Pirates will have to go 42-85 the rest of the way to lose 100 games again but don’t count them out the way they’re playing now. Sarcasm? I hope so.
The Pirates have not even competed in a game for a week, and the Rockies are coming in play good baseball…
BTW I wonder if a top 10 for the upcoming draft would not sign with the Pirates…Could be interesting to why would a top prospect want to sign with the Pirates???
Money.
Exactly. Not like the old pre slot days now.
Maybe it’s the Maggi Curse
I think they sealed their fate when they DFA’d him for no reason. You never need to have a 40-man spot open to get someone else or call someone up. You make the room right after you add someone
This is premature, perhaps wildly so, because Triolo has yet to debut in the bigs, let alone succeed, but for me, the clock is ticking on Hayes. He must improve offensively or risk being replaced by Triolo, or some other option. Hayes’ defense is elite, but Triolo is excellent defensively too. The offensive bar is so low now it would not be hard to surpass it.
The best you can say about Hayes is that he is a late-game defensive replacement, but he is here to stay with his way premature contract…
Hayes would have a good deal of value to a team that doesn’t need to worry about his bat. He is signed for many years at a very reasonable rate, defense rarely slumps, and he may, eventually hit, especially if he is on a strong offensive team where there is little pressure for him. I want him to succeed here, but he is 26 and I am not seeing it.
Nick Gonzalez also chapping at his heals
I am ready to trade Hayes to the Twins for Krilloff
Kirilloff healthy? I feel he is always injured. Who would you have man third? Nick G play there. Maybe he can hit better but sacrifice a little D? I would love to get Kirilloff due to being local.
Triolo’s 1 for 20 .050 batting average this spring did not help his case in taking over Hayes job. Hopefullly Triolo can get off to a good start in the minors.
Spring Training stats are meaningless.
I agree there is little correlation between spring training stats and major league stats. If you are a minor leaguer trying to make the big leagues, a bad spring training will most likely start you in the minors.
How upset would you all be if Ben signed an all star this last off-season for about 18 million AAV and a month in have to move him off,position and replace him with a guy hitting bellow,the Mendoza Line?
I was listening to MLB Network Radio this morning and some caller named Al in New Jersey, a 65-year old Cardinals fan, went on one of the epic sports talk radio rants of all-time. I was afraid he was going to stroke out he was so mad at Cards management.
Judging by his call, I’d say everyone in Cards management should be sharpening up their resume.
Was reading some humorous Cub fan posts about Contreras. Several laughing about the contract being a huge overpay. Short memory of overpaying for Heyward to take him away from the Cards. Far worse contract in my mind.
Just think how happy all those same Cards fans were when the money was spent on Contreras when the deal was done. Baseball……..
Ro has looked great until he gets two strikes.
Giving up a 3-run HR feels like the kiss of death these days.
Angular +1
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
we have a manager problem
What do you expect Shelton to do when he is managing a bunch of AAA players, bench players and a washed up McCutchen? Not to mention injuries every game.
fundamental baseball requires more concentration than skill
players not paying attention is his fault
What is he doing wrong?
That’s what I’m wondering. It doesn’t matter who the manager is you’re never going to win with a roster full of crap. Most of these guys are nothing more than AAA players or bench players.
If people are going to credit him with how the clubhouse attitude was contributing to their winning, don’t you have to question his leadership when they don’t seem capable of breaking out of their funk? I’m indifferent on Shelton but I thought one month of good baseball was way too soon to start heaping praise on him after three historically bad seasons.
Just one of many this week.
The Shelton apologists, like Brown, are stating a narrative that the talent just isn’t there (again).
A 1st place club doesn’t need excuses. We need execution. That’s why the continued use of Hedges as the starter and Delay as the backup is so aggravating.
When does the fun start up again? This is decidedly unfun.
Mathias has no range.
time for Mathias to walk the plank
how much more time to wait to avoid Nick´s super two?
That’s not the issue holding him down. Endy on the other hand…
Pirates seemingly have 30 2B on the 40-man roster, and not one of them is good defensively.
Here we go again.
The sloppy play is crushing my soul. I get shit happens sometimes but the day in and day out sloppy play is taking it’s toll on me
#FreeCalMitchell
either Angujar or Mathias need to have a big day today
Man, we could use a rainout today. But they’ll wait all day in order to get this one in while Jays are in town for their only time this season.
There are other teams and fans experiencing the misery of a losing streak: Cards (8 games); Phillies (6); Brewers (6), Marlins (5). And those riding the high of a winning streak: Red Sox (8); Tigers (5). It can be a strange game of momentum.
Is Guerrero hurt? Definitely happy he’s out again today, but hopefully it’s not a long term issue.
Speaking of long term issues, glad VV’s forearm isn’t one of them.
Man, we could use a bounce back game here today
Happy Ro Day Y’all!!!!