Bubba Chandler left his start early on Friday, after dealing with control problems.
Chandler walked his first two batters, then issued three more walks with two outs. Following the third walk, he was removed from the game and replaced by RHP Justin Meis.
Hopefully the decision to remove Chandler was a precautionary measure, and not an indication of something serious. He threw 33 pitches, with ten for strikes. Three of his five runs scored off Meis.
In my latest update of the Pirates top prospects, Chandler stands out as the number one guy in the system once Paul Skenes eventually loses his eligibility.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS lost 8-3.
- 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, SB
- C Henry Davis: 1-for-5
- SS Liover Peguero: 1-for-3, BB, SB
- LF Canaan Smith-Njigba: 1-for-2, 3B, 2 BB, 2 RBI
- 3B Andres Alvarez: 1-for-3, RBI
ALTOONA lost 6-3, after Bubba Chandler left in the first inning.
- RHP Drake Fellows: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng: 2-for-4, HR, RBI
- 3B Brenden Dixon: 2-for-3, HR, BB
- CF Jase Bowen: 2-for-4, 2B, BB
- RHP Justin Meis: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
GREENSBORO was postponed.
BRADENTON lost 5-2.
- LHP Michael Kennedy: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
- LF Eddy Rodriguez: 1-for-4, HR
- C Axiel Plaz: 2-for-4, HR, RBI
- SS Javier Rivas: 2-for-4
- 1B Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-4
FCL PIRATES won 5-2.
- LHP Inmer Lobo: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
- SS Jhonny Severino: 1-for-4, HR
- 2B Yerry De Los Santos: 1-for-2
- 1B Carlos Tirado: 1-for-1, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI
- DH Roinny Aguiar: 1-for-3, 3B, RBI
STATCAST HEROES
RHP Connor Sadzeck allowed one run in 1.2 innings, striking out five. He picked up seven whiffs, with three on the four-seam, two on the sinker, and two on his cutter. STATS
LHP Michael Kennedy picked up 17 whiffs in his latest start. He had 6 on 15 swings against the four-seam fastball, five on nine swings against the slider, and six on 13 swings against the changeup. That led to a 46% whiff rate on the day. I wrote about Kennedy and the adjustment he’s made with his pitches in my latest article for Baseball America. STATS
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 6:35 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 7:05 PM – LHP Anthony Solometo (0-2, 5.68)
- High-A: Greensboro, 5:00 PM – RHP Patrick Reilly (1-2, 5.20)
- High-A: Greensboro, Game Two – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Khristian Curtis (0-2, 5.40)
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, 10:00 AM – RHP Zander Mueth (0-1, 1.23)
