This has been a rough stretch for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team has a seven game losing streak, which is their second such streak of the season.
The first one came from April 30th to May 7th. The Pirates won on May 8th, then lost the next four games. The Pirates had a six game winning streak in between their two long losing streaks. In total, they are 14-29 since April 30th, which is not good. Even if you remove the current losing streak, this is a team that has been playing well below .500 for almost two months.
I do think this team will improve and gain consistency. We saw Henry Davis arrive yesterday, which will provide a boost to the offense. There are other prospects who could arrive, headlined by Endy Rodriguez and Quinn Priester. No individual or group of prospects could have changed what we saw over the last seven-plus weeks.
During this time, the Pirates have been more of a middle of the pack team. They rank in 17th in WAR (6.7), 18th in ERA (4.37), and 12th in FIP (4.16) on the pitching side during this stretch. The offense ranks 19th in average (.244), 15th in OBP (.323), and 18th in slugging (.398).
Johan Oviedo takes the mound today, as the Pirates look to avoid their fifth loss in a row against the Cubs, and their eighth loss of the current losing streak.
In transaction news, the Pirates recalled outfield Cal Mitchell and optioned struggling reliever Yohan Ramirez. Despite some dubious reports to the contrary, Bryan Reynolds officially is not going on the injured list.
PIRATES GAME PREVIEWS
PIRATES (34-37) VS CUBS
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Johan Oviedo, RHP (3-6, 4.40)
Cubs Starter: Marcus Stroman, RHP (8-4, 2.45)
Pirates Lineup:
Tonight's lineup.
Cubs Lineup:
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup for game 2️⃣ in Pittsburgh!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXzr9f pic.twitter.com/taNvqjQ1lE
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 20, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS (29-38) VS COLUMBUS
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:6/18: Jared Jones Another Aggressive Push On Pitching Prospects
6/7: Aaron Shackelford adjusts swing and relocates power
6/6: Carmen Mlodzinski improves all the way with aggressive approachALTOONA (31-30) VS BOWIE
Game Time: 6:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: Aaron Shortridge, RHP (3-4, 5.60)
Latest Features:6/9: Jared Jones Continues Incredible Development With Altoona
6/1: Matt Gorski Displays Athleticism And Versatility
5/25: Sean Sullivan Continues To Thrive In AltoonaGREENSBORO (33-28) VS WINSTON-SALEM
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: Thomas Harrington, RHP (0-1, 4.50)
Latest Features:6/15: Anthony Solometo Promotion A Win For 2021 Draft Class
6/14: Bubba Chandler Looking To Limit Big Innings
6/4: Braxton Ashcraft Showing Velocity and Control in Return From Tommy JohnBRADENTON (34-29) AT LAKELAND
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:6/10: Jack Brannigan Continues Hot Streak With Another Home Run
6/9: Ryan Harbin: Sinker/Slider Mix Dominating Single-A Hitters
6/3: Thomas Harrington Displayed Swing and Miss Secondary in BradentonFCL PIRATES (9-2)
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:6/16: Is This The Year For A Solomon Maguire Breakout?
6/12: Pirates 2023 Minor League Preview: FCL Pirates
6/11: Pitching Depth Continues To Grow With Jun-Seok Shim DebutDSL PIRATES BLACK (4-7)
Game Time: 11:00 AM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DSL PIRATES GOLD (7-4)
Game Time: 11:00 AM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
THE NEW PROSPECT WATCH
With all of our game reports now going into this daily article, the Prospect Watch has been repurposed as a daily look at three prospects throughout the system. Check the site each day at noon for the latest edition. We’ll keep the archives updated here.
6/19: Henry Davis, Bubba Chandler, Julian Bosnic
6/18: Jared Jones, Matt Gorski, Tony Blanco Jr.
6/17: Liover Peguero, Dominic Perachi, Carlos Mateo
6/16: Kyle Nicolas, Anthony Solometo, Jack Brannigan
6/15: Shalin Polanco, Abrahan Gutierrez, Will Matthiessen
6/14: Nick Cimillo, Geovanny Planchart, Jesus Castillo
6/13: Brandan Bidios, Yordany De Los Santos, J.P. MasseyDAILY PIRATES NEWS
Jeff Reed previews the final week of the first half of the minor league season.
**Pirates Prospects Daily: Final Week of Minor League First Half
The Bradenton Marauders cleaned up the Florida State League weekly awards this week.
**Shalin Polanco and Alessandro Ercolani Take Home Florida State League Awards
John Dreker has a roundup of all of the minor league transactions to start the week.
**A Round Up of Tuesday’s Minor League Transactions
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out John’s book on the 1890 Pittsburgh Pirates, and his recent article on the top 30 prospects from that team.
My book on the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys, the worst team in Pirates franchise history, was recently published. I wrote an article that combines history and prospects. The team used 30 rookies that year, so I ranked them 1-30 on their 1890 prospect status https://t.co/TWHYjF1WhR
— John Dreker (@JohnDreker) June 20, 2023
More Recent Pirates Features
6/18: The Book on Henry Davis
6/17: Carmen Mlodzinski Becomes First Cherington Pick To Reach Big Leagues
6/15: Where Are The Hitting Prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates Farm System?
6/14: The Book on Osvaldo Bido
6/11: Interview With Andrew McCutchenPIRATES RECAP
By Jeff Reed
Check back at the end of the night for all of the daily results throughout the system, or, join the discussion in the comments if you’re following Live.
Final Score: Cubs 4, Pirates 0
Player of the Game: Johan Oviedo, 6 IP, 5 H, HBP, 2 ER, 3 K
Recap:The day began with news that Bryan Reynolds was nursing an injury, so he’d be unavailable and Cal Mitchell was called up. In addition, their other most consistent hitter Andrew McCutchen was given a day off.
Johan Oviedo was coming off a start against the Cubs where he gave up four earned runs in 4.1 innings. He fared much better this time around given up only two earned runs over six innings.
The Cubs offense got on the board first with a third inning home run from Tucker Barnhart. In the fourth, Connor Joe chased around a ball that lead to a triple from Ian Happ. He’d score two batter later on a Cody Bellinger sacrifice fly.
Carmen Mlodzinski pitched the seventh for the Buccos, and threw a scoreless inning on 14 pitches with only a hit batsman reaching base.
Through six innings, the Pirates were only able to get a runner to second base once against Marcus Stroman. In the seventh, they had runners on first and second with two outs, and Derek Shelton brought in Mitchell to pinch hit for Jason Delay. Mitchell worked a 3-2 count with a couple long foul balls to left field, before going down on the eighth pitch of the at bat swinging.
Dauri Moreta took the eighth inning. He gave up a lead off home run, triple, and then a sacrifice fly make it 4-0. Josh Palacios made a strong throw home, but Nico Hoerner was able to just allude the tag upon being reviewed.
Angel Perdomo came out for the ninth inning. He walked two batters in the inning, but got through unscathed allowing no hits and striking out one.
In total, the Pirates were able to get five hits and one walk. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2-for-4, Connor Joe 2-for-3 with a double, and Tucupita Marcano 1-for-4 with a double.
The Pirates have now lost eight in a row, moving all the way from leading the division by half a game, to fourth place by half a game behind the Cubs.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
By Wilbur Miller
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS
Final Score: Columbus 3, Indianapolis 1
Player of the Game: Jared Jones 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Recap:Jared Jones got off to a great start in AAA, but his debut ended sadly and Indianapolis lost, 3-1.
Jones breezed through five and two-thirds innings, allowing just three hits, with no walks. He fanned five. Unfortunately, with one on and two out in the sixth, Jones walked two to load the bases. Daniel Zamora then came on to walk the next three batters, forcing in all three inherited runners.
Zamora’s meltdown was all the offense Columbus would get. Colin Selby, Hunter Stratton and Cody Bolton finished up with a hitless inning each. Selby, in his second outing since returning from the IL, walked one and struck out two. Stratton struck out the side.
Indy had some chances on offense, as they drew eight walks to go with six hits. This is a Pirates’ farm team, though, so they went 1-for-8 with RISP. Nick Gonzales doubled in Alika Williams with the only run in the seventh. Gonzales also walked twice to reach base three times in all. Williams had two hits. Endy Rodriguez continued to give the Pirates excuses to keep Austin Hedges around, going 0-for-4.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA
Final Score: Bowie 4, Altoona 1
Player of the Game: Connor Scott 3-for-4
Recap:Altoona had lost of opportunities, with 11 hits and four walks, but wasted them in a 4-1 loss. The Curve went 2-for-10 with RISP and stranded 11.
Aaron Shortridge gave up seven hits and two walks over five and a third innings, but allowed only two runs, both on a home run in the third. Noe Toribio gave up his own two-run bomb in the eighth, accounting for the rest of the Bowie runs.
Altoona got three hits from Connor Scott, and a single and double from Liover Peguero. The only run came when Jacob Gonzalez singled in the fourth, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Scott.
Tahnaj Thomas pitched for the first time since May 26 and threw a scoreless inning.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO
Final Score: Greensboro 10, Winston-Salem 7
Player of the Game: Jase Bowen 3-for-3, BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Recap:Greensboro scored five in the bottom of the seventh to win, 10-7, in a seesaw game that was limited by rain to seven and a half innings.
Thomas Harrington has started four games for the Hoppers and only one has gone well. In this one, he lasted only two and two-thirds innings. He allowed six hits and three walks, and struck out four. Despite all the baserunners, Harrington managed to limit the damage to three runs, two earned. The bullpen wasn’t especially effective, either. Jaycob Deese and Logan Hofmann allowed two runs each. Jack Carey didn’t allow any runs of his own, but Deese’s two scored with Carey on the mound.
The Hoppers got the majority of their runs on two swings of the bat. With two aboard, Shawn Ross hit his fourth home run of the year in the fourth, putting Greensboro ahead at the time, 4-3. Winston-Salem eventually took a 7-5 lead, but in the seventh, Mike Jarvis singled in a run and Maikol Escotto later hit a grand slam to make it 10-7. That was Escotto’s fourth home run of the year.
The Hoppers got big games from Jarvis and Jase Bowen. They each had three hits, and Bowen added a walk. The Hoppers got the ten runs despite their usual offensive mainstay, Tsung-Che Cheng, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON
Final Score: Bradenton 6, Lakeland 2
Player of the Game: Termarr Johnson 3-for-4, 2 HR (7)
Recap:Termarr Johnson belted two home runs and Bradenton scored four in the top of the ninth to break a 2-2 and went on to win.
Johnson’s two longballs, in the first and seventh innings, provided the two runs that had the game tied. He also had a single. Johnson has seven home runs on the season and his OPS is up to .887 after a slow start. In June, he’s hitting 259/449/638.
Owen Kellington had a shaky start for the Marauders. He lasted just three and two-thirds and threw only 39 of 72 pitches for strikes. Despite three hits and four walks, though, he only allowed two runs. Darvin Garcia went an inning and a third, and Geronimo Franzua and Ryan Harbin each threw two scoreless and hitless innings.
Nobody but Johnson produced any offense for Bradenton until the ninth. Then, Enmanuel Terrero led off with his fifth home run of the season to break the tie. A fielder’s choice produced a second run and Deivis Nadal singled in the last two.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
Final Score: Rays 12, Pirates 3
Player of the Game: Lonnie White, Jr., 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Recap:The FCL Pirates issued the truly prodigious total of 16 walks in losing to the Rays. The Rays went just 3-for-21 with RISP and stranded 15, but still scored a dozen.
Hung-Leng Chang started and was . . . well . . . awful. He couldn’t find the plate and got hit hard when he did. He got only four outs, walked four and gave up three hits, and was charged with seven runs, four earned. I’ve seen Chang three times this year and he doesn’t seem to have the same stuff he did last year. He got no swings and misses in this game.
Jackson Grounds followed and wasn’t much better. He let two of three inherited runners score plus one of his own. He gave up three walks and two hits in an inning and a third. Kevison Hernandez finally stopped the bleeding, stranding three of Grounds’ runners and going two and two-thirds without allowing a run or hit. He walked four, though, and had to be rescued by Andy Maldonado, who stranded two of his runners. Maldonado went an inning and two-thirds without allowing a run. Roelmy Garcia gave up an unearned run in one inning and Joaquin Tejada finished by allowing three runs in the ninth.
The Pirates had some chances, with nine hits and four walks. They finally got on the board on an RBI double by Lonnie White, Jr., in the fourth. That put runners on second and third with nobody out, but the following hitters Hainesed it. The Pirates later scored on a ground out and another RBI hit by White.
White finished 3-for-4. Javier Rivas had a single and a double, and the RBI ground out. Jack Herman made his first appearance since an abortive rehab attempt two weeks ago, playing left and going 0-for-4.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
Final Score: Pirates Black 6, Cubs Red 3
Player of the Game:
Recap:The Pirates Black beat the Cubs Red, 6-3. The Pirates got two in the second on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Miguel Rodriguez. That was all the scoring in the game until the seventh and last inning. The Pirates got four in the top of the inning on a two-run double by Carlos Caro and a two-run single by Antonio Pimentel. It was a good thing, because they gave up three in the bottom half.
Carlos Castillo had another excellent start, throwing four shutout innings while allowing just two hits and a walk. He fanned five, and now has an ERA of 0.84 and WHIP of 0.75. Dariel Francia followed with two scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Brandison Polanco came on to get the last two outs, although he also allowed an inherited runner to score as well as one of his own. One of the runs off Francia and the one off Polanco were unearned. Francia struck out four and Polanco two, giving the team 11 in seven innings.
Rodriguez finished with a single, double and walk, and Pimentel had two singles.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
Final Score: Red Sox Red 6, Pirates Gold 5
Player of the Game: Luis Joseph 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Recap:The Pirates Gold got seven shutout innings from their pitchers, then had to rally twice from two runs down, only to lose in 11 innings, 6-5.
Dermis Ordonez and Luis Joseph each threw three shutout innings. Joseph was slightly more effective, allowing no hits and two walks, while fanning four. Ordonez gave up three hits and two walks, and struck out two. Angel Camacho, who’s just off the injured list, followed with a scoreless seventh.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Richard Ramirez. In the eighth, though, Jose Regalado gave up hits to all four batters he faced, leading to three runs, two unearned.
The Pirates came back to tie in the bottom of the inning on an RBI triple by Juan Machado and a single by Tony Blanco, Jr. The game went into the tenth, and the Red Sox got both the free runner and one more home against Hader Blanco, both runs unearned. Blanco pitched well, allowing just those two unearned runs over three innings and stranding the one runner he inherited from Regalado. The Pirates tied it again, though, on an RBI single by Ruben Vizcaya, a walk, a balk and a wild pitch. In the eleventh, the Sox got the free runner home and the Pirates couldn’t counter this time.
Machado finished with two walks and the triple, and Tony Blanco had two singles. Shortstop Roinny Aguiar reached base four times on two singles and two walks.
