The Pirates’ Quinn Priester mowed down the Cleveland Guardians with a perfect first three innings, but the Bucs fell apart after that. Joe Block has the story.
In tonight’s second game of the series. After his appearance last Tuesday in the All-Star game, right-hander Mitch Keller [9-4, 3.31 ERA] gets the start for the Bucs against lefty Logan Allen [3-2, 3.47 ERA], who will be called up from Columbus to start for the Guardians. It’s a 6:40 airtime, a 7:05 first pitch on 100.9 The Groundhog.
In order to add Quinn Priester, Endy Rodriguez, and Liover Peguero to the Major league roster, pitcher Cody Bolton, catcher Jason Delay, and outfielder Josh Palacios were sent to Indianapolis. And to make room for Priester on the 40-man roster, the Pirates yesterday designated 2018 first round pick Travis Swaggerty for assignment. He’s hardly played this year due to medical issues and his wife’s cancer, appearing in only 17 games and batting .200 with one home run.
Manager Derek Shelton says former top overall draft pick Henry Davis is still a catcher, but he is primarily going to play right field for the Pirates, and the catching plan moving forward will have Endy Rodriguez behind the plate and Austin Hedges backing him up.
Pirates’ reliever Wil Crowe had his rehab assignment transferred to Indianapolis over the weekend, which could mean his return to the Majors very soon to help the Bucs’ beleaguered bullpen. Crowe has not pitch in the big leagues since April 17th. He made one appearance for Indy on Friday and gave up a home run in one inning of work.
DRAFT
Major League baseball teams have until 5 PM next Tuesday to sign their draft picks or lose their rights to them. So far, the Pirates have signed second round pick Mitch Jebb, a shortstop they have ticketed to play the outfield; third rounder Garrett Forester, a third baseman, and their fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and tenth round selections, pitchers Carlson Reed, Patrick Reilly, Jaden Woods, Austin Strickland, and Landon Tomkins.
Still unsigned, of course, is the top overall pick in MLB, pitcher Paul Skenes. And the Pirates’ have not yet signed competitive balance pick, pitcher Zander Mueth, who was taken 67th overall.
ALTOONA CURVE
The Altoona Curve return home to take on the Reading Phillies in the first game of a six-game series. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who in three starts for the Curve has given up only one unearned run in seven innings, gets the ball for the Curve tonight.
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