I had a migraine last night. I didn’t get a chance to watch the Pirates game live. I didn’t even really watch the action until I felt pain-free this morning around 9 AM. My goal is to get this article up each day at 12:01 AM, with a secondary goal to have it posted by 8 AM, and an emergency goal to have it posted before noon. Today, we’re in that emergency timeframe, as this article is going up after 10 AM.
I bring this up because behind the scenes, this site and my life are being run in a way to try and prevent migraines. This is one of the few days of the young season that my schedule has been derailed by my body simply not allowing me to function. Other than yesterday, I’m hopeful that I’ve been working toward a winning routine.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have their own winning routine going. They improved to 9-2 yesterday with a win over the Detroit Tigers. I bring up my own migraines to show a level of appreciation for the consistency of this team.
The season is 11 games old, and the Pirates haven’t exactly been perfect. There are four games they’ve won in extra innings or come from behind fashion. There are some players who haven’t performed well out of the gate. There are also other games where the Pirates have dominated the other team, and other players who consistently step up with their own winning routines.
I woke up after this game was completed, so I didn’t get the feel for it live, but it seemed like one of those where the Pirates dominated the other team. They gave up a run in the first inning, but took a two run lead in the second, and by the sixth inning, it was 7-2 following the 100th career home run by Bryan Reynolds.
Mitch Keller has struggled in his first two starts of the season, but looked great in this outing. Keller allowed two runs on five hits in six innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts. He had a game-leading 13 whiffs, fueled mostly by his sinker, which led to six whiffs and nine called strikes for a 38% combined rate. Keller was leading with the sinker, but also picked up two whiffs on the four-seam, curve, and sweeper. His curveball added seven called strikes for a combined 53% rate.
The pickup of Aroldis Chapman is looking like a shrewd move. LHP Josh Fleming relieved Keller with a perfect inning in the seventh. Fleming returned in the eighth with a five run lead, but allowed a run to score and loaded the bases with one out. Chapman was brought in, and did his thing, striking out both batters he faced, needing just seven pitches, and throwing all seven for strikes. The final pitch was a 101.2 MPH called strike on the low and away corner.
Over the years, the Pirates have had some good relievers, but I can’t remember a shutdown guy to the level of Chapman, who can completely halt the progress of the opponents when they’re surging late, not even allowing the ball to be hit into play for chance to take effect.
The offense got it done all night. Reynolds had two hits, with his game capping home run. Connor Joe and Andrew McCutchen each had two hits and a double. Jack Suwinski and Jared Triolo also picked up a pair of hits. New catching addition Joey Bart picked up a hit, while knocking in two, and is now 3-for-8 with a double and a home run in his first two games with the Pirates.
The Pirates keep winning. Their winning routine is simply the depth of quality on this roster. Fleming and Chapman are the best example. This has been a good season so far from Fleming, but the moment he struggled, Chapman was there to keep the game on course.
There haven’t been many moments this season where things just completely fall apart for this Pirates team. Their 9-2 start is an early sign that they’ve got a good winning routine.
STATCAST HEROES
Between the high exit velocities, and the shutdown work from Aroldis Chapman, the Pirates were bringing the power on Monday. STATS
DAILY VIDEO RUNDOWN
Mitch Keller struck out nine batters. Here is a compilation of those strikeouts.
All 9 of Mitch Keller's strikeouts from tonight pic.twitter.com/DLYr6m20mV
— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) April 9, 2024
The Joey Bart pickup has worked well so far. It would be great if he continues hitting like this and adds to the Pirates growing catching depth.
All aboard the Joey Bart train. pic.twitter.com/hWe99D23FF
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 8, 2024
Connor Joe has been one of the most productive players on the team this year. He brought in the first run of the game, then helped put it further out of reach with this hit.
This is a Connor Joe appreciation post. pic.twitter.com/bjRtcTnIIH
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 9, 2024
Bryan Reynolds picks up his 100th career home run to cap things off.
0 to 💯 real quick. pic.twitter.com/CFb7gBmxSX
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 9, 2024
PROSPECT WATCH
There were no minor league games yesterday. The weekly Pirates Prospect Watch looked at Paul Skenes, Pitching Depth, and Power Bats.
ROSTER MOVES
**LHP Connor Oliver, acquired in the Colin Selby trade, was assigned to Bradenton.
**RHP Owen Kellington, one of the over-slot prep players from the 2021 draft, was placed on the 60-day IL.
TODAY: PIRATES (9-2) VS TIGERS (6-4)
Game Time: 12:35 PM EDT
Watch: SportsNet-PIT
Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
Pirates Starter: Martin Perez, LHP (1-0, 2.45)
Orioles Starter: Casey Mize, RHP (0-0, 6.23)
In the Minors…
- Indianapolis takes on Toledo at 6:35 PM EST with LHP Michael Plassmeyer on the mound.
- Altoona sends RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the mound at 6:00 PM to face Harrisburg at home.
- Greensboro plays Winston-Salem on the road at 7:00 PM, with no announced starter.
- Bradenton is at Lakeland at 6:30 PM, with RHP Carlos Jimenez on the mound.
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
This article contains the nightly Prospect Watch, recapping the best of what happened each day. Every Monday, I release a weekly Prospect Watch, looking at the best performers from the previous week. Last week was the first week that had games from all of the full-season affiliates. Paul Skenes, the pitching depth in the system, and power bats stood out in the first week.
Check back on the site later today for this week’s premium article drop, and subscribe to Pirates Prospects on Patreon to get those articles. I usually try to get the drop posted at noon, but there’s a special editing process for those articles. Each one gets written, re-written/adjusted, then read and edited one final time in a new mindset before publishing. I’ll be reading and making final adjustments to all of those articles today, before you get a chance to read about Jack Brannigan and some of the other standout prospects in the middle levels.
Subscribe to Pirates Prospects Daily below for free, and get these Pittsburgh Pirates updates delivered to your inbox.
LAST WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
**2024 Pittsburgh Pirates Top 50 Tiered Rankings Version 1.0
The top 50 prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, plus a few more, separated into tiered rankings to give you an idea of who could be starters and who could be depth.
**Indianapolis Will Provide Paul Skenes and Depth For the Pirates in 2024
Paul Skenes leads a group of prospects in Triple-A who will provide the Pirates with depth throughout the 2024 season.
**Altoona Features the Best Prospect Group in the Pirates System in 2024
The best prospect group, from the start of the year through the end of the year, will be found in Altoona.
**Greensboro is Loaded With Hitting Talent At the Start of the 2024 Season
The hitters at the top of the Greensboro prospect group will have fun hitting in that home park with zero outfield space.
**Bradenton Has One of The Best Upside Prospect Groups in Years
There’s a group of high upside players making their way to full-season ball, and it could be one of the best Single-A groups in years for the Pirates.
**Five Players in Rookie Ball Who You Should Watch in the Pirates System
Five players in rookie ball who stand out as some of the most promising options in the entire Pirates system.
SONG OF THE DAY
