The Pittsburgh Pirates won 3-2 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here were three things that stood out to me in the win:
- Luis Ortiz keeps pitching well. He allowed two runs in six innings out of the rotation, with two walks and seven strikeouts. I’ve written about Ortiz recently, noting how he’s worked himself into a crowded rotation mix for 2025. Despite the heavy amount of options, Ortiz is in line to be an Opening Day option, after putting up a 3.43 ERA so far in the Majors in his age 25 season.
- The middle infield will be interesting to watch going forward. There aren’t any above-average players, but the Pirates could get above-average production depending on how the players are managed. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had two hits, including a double and a stolen base. Nick Gonzales had two hits, with a triple and a stolen base. Those two seem like the most common shortstop and second baseman, respectively, which is where they each played last night. The Pirates could eventually spell them with someone like Nick Yorke or Jared Triolo, who were both in the lineup last night.
- Yasmani Grandal hit his eighth homer of the year, tying the game in the seventh inning. The catcher now has a .682 OPS, after a .965 OPS since the All-Star Break. Five of his eight homers on the year have come during this stretch. The Pirates are getting the catcher they hoped for, just three months late.
Mattson Added
The Pirates added RHP Isaac Mattson to the Major League roster on Thursday. He didn’t get in the game, but should get a chance to make his first MLB appearance since 2021. Mattson has put up a 3.15 ERA in 60 innings with Indianapolis this season, with a 76:33 K/BB. Read more about him in the latest Pirates Transactions.
Pirates Prospect Watch
Indianapolis is the only minor league team remaining in action. On Thursday night, Alika Williams had four hits for the Triple-A squad. Read about his game and all of the other Indianapolis action in the latest Pirates Prospect Watch.
