The Pirates beat the Marlins 7-2 on Friday night, improving to 2-0 on the young season.
This looks like a team that can beat you in a lot of ways. The players on the team look like they can win in multiple ways.
Martin Perez didn’t have his most efficient stuff tonight, with only 42% of his pitches in the zone, and only 26% chase. He did continue the Spring Training trend of getting called or swinging strikes at a rate higher than his career norm. Perez picked up nine whiffs — five on the changeup, two on the curveball, and two on the cutter. He also added 15 called strikes, with his cutter getting six and his sinker getting five. That helped him hold the Marlins to one run in 4.1 innings of work. He had thrown 86 pitches by that point, so not the innings eating effort needed from the number two starter in the rotation. But, he got through those innings with minimal damage.
Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t have his usual Gold Glove defense, picking up two errors with Perez on the mound. He also added two hits at the plate, knocking in two runs and scoring two runs.
The bullpen stepped up again. Ryder Ryan made his Pirates debut, throwing 1.2 shutout innings after stranding two runners left on by Perez. He struck out two.
Josh Fleming picked up the win, pitching the final three innings. His one run came on two hits that could have both been ruled errors on Oneil Cruz. Other than that, he was shutdown, picking up eight whiffs, with five on his sinker, two on the cutter, and one on his changeup.
Cruz had some trouble on the field in the ninth inning, but went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Connor Joe picked up two hits, including an RBI double. Michael A. Taylor had the longest hit of the night with his first double of the season.
STATCAST HEROES
ROSTER MOVES
The Pirates traded JT Brubaker and international bonus pool money to the New York Yankees, getting a player to be named later in return.
In my season preview, I predicted the Pirates to have 83-85 wins. Brubaker had the 11th most starting pitching innings in that projection. Returning from Tommy John this year, and likely limited in innings, he wouldn’t have played a big role in the overall outcome of the 2024 season. The Pirates were paying him $2.275 million this year, likely for only a handful of innings.
The question is whether he would have been a top five starter in 2025. Right now, the ideal rotation on Opening Day next year would include Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, and Jared Jones. If the Pirates added one starting pitcher next offseason, that would put Brubaker in a competition for the fifth spot.
Brubaker is arbitration eligible in 2025. He’s likely going to cost $5+ million total from now until the end of 2025. Any team is ultimately paying him this year to get his production next year. If he drops to a depth starter, that $5+ million is expensive for what the Pirates normally spend. The Yankees, on the other hand, would pay that for a long reliever or a #6-7 starter.
PROSPECT WATCH
Indianapolis lost their opener 9-8 on Friday night to Louisville. Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero, Malcom Nunez, and Joe Perez each collected two hits. Gonzales hit a two out, two run homer in the third inning. Jake Lamb homered in the ninth inning, pulling Indianapolis to within one.
Michael Plassmeyer got the start, allowing a run on one hit in four innings, while striking out six. The Pirates signed Plassmeyer to a minor league deal last November. He threw 3.2 shutout innings in big league camp, striking out four. The 27-year-old lefty adds to the starting pitching depth, making the Brubaker trade make a little more sense.
The Pirates sent Colin Holderman to Indianapolis for a rehab assignment on Friday night. Holderman was returning from an illness which held him out for a long period during Spring Training. He gave up three runs in two hits and a walk, getting two outs. Both of his outs were strikeouts, and two of his runs scored off Connor Sadzeck.
Kyle Nicolas pitched a scoreless eighth, with two walks and a strikeout. Matt Gorski went 1-for-4 with a double.
DAILY VIDEO RUNDOWN
Ke’Bryan Hayes went downstairs for a double down the third base line. He had a rough night on the field, but made up for it with this.
Ke makes it 3-0! pic.twitter.com/PXClqYNI0N
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 29, 2024
Edward Olivares keeps hitting, going upstairs to line an RBI single into center field. Olivares homered in yesterday’s game.
Olivares lo pone 4-0! pic.twitter.com/HmkbCmCLOb
— Los Piratas (@piratasbeisbol) March 30, 2024
Oneil Cruz helped put the game further out of reach on a tough breaking pitch taken opposite field.
La experiencia Cruz 💥 pic.twitter.com/Pb6vRo7Qmk
— Los Piratas (@piratasbeisbol) March 30, 2024
Nick Gonzales homered for Indianapolis. He was batting leadoff, playing second base in the first game of the season.
It’s not Tuesday, but tonight we’re having oppo tacos. 🌮
Thanks, @Nick_Gonzales13. 👊 pic.twitter.com/AUGxsznLXv
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) March 30, 2024
TODAY: PIRATES (2-0) AT MARLINS (0-2)
Game Time: 4:10 PM EDT
Watch: SportsNet-PIT
Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
Pirates Starter: Jared Jones, RHP (0-0, 0.00)
Marlins Starter: Ryan Weathers, LHP (0-0, 0.00)
In the Minors…
Paul Skenes will be making his first start of the year for Indianapolis, at 2:05 PM ET. That means you can watch a double-header of Skenes and Jones on Saturday afternoon. I know what I’ll be doing.
Pirates Prospects Daily
Friday’s articles looked at the Pirates’ Opening Day victory, with a Statcast Heroes that further broke down the first game of the season.
Check Pirates Prospects at noon for the next in the Saturday Sleepers series, looking at A-ball catcher Omar Alfonzo.
Over at Baseball America, I’ve got new features on Paul Skenes and Lonnie White Jr.
Subscribe to Pirates Prospects Daily below for free, and get these Pittsburgh Pirates updates delivered to your inbox.
This Week on Pirates Prospects
**Paul Skenes Predicts the Pirates Will Be Winning For a Long Time
The 2023 first overall pick, number one pitching prospect in the game, and number one prospect in the Pirates’ system is expected to arrive in Pittsburgh this summer. Paul Skenes notes that he’s only one man, and feels the Pirates have enough talent to win for a long time.
**Jared Jones Forces the Pirates Hand – FREE ARTICLE OF THE DAY (Available at noon EST)
After an impressive Spring Training, Jared Jones has made the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation. This was far from a guarantee at the start of camp, but the performance from Jones and the development of his secondary stuff was enough to force the Pirates to make a decision.
**Termarr Johnson Just Wants to Win, Including One Day in Pittsburgh
The Pirates drafted Termarr Johnson fourth overall in 2022, and the 19-year-old infielder has shown advanced contact abilities, plate patience, and surprising power. He also has a competitive drive, wanting to win everywhere he goes, including one day in Pittsburgh.
**Bubba Chandler Shows Advanced Maturity Entering Third Pro Season
After a break to reset in the middle of 2023, Bubba Chandler had some of the best numbers in the Pittsburgh Pirates system in the second half. The right-handed pitcher continues to progress this spring, working on his changeup while bringing a mature approach to his game.
**“Z” Cheng Has a Fast Car (FREE until noon)
Tsung-Che Cheng is no stranger to international competition and playing in front of large crowds. He also has some of the best contact skills in the Pirates’ system, and walks to the plate playing “Fast Car” by Luke Combs. Read about the man nicknamed “Z”.
**Lonnie White Jr. Shows a Competitive Drive and Quick Learning Ability
Lonnie White Jr. was drafted 64th overall in 2021, signing with the Pirates rather than going to Penn State as a two-sport athlete. Injuries slowed the start of his career, but he returned in 2023, with some of the best numbers in the system during the second half.
Song of the Day
