The Pirates have fallen to last place in the National League Central Division, and Wild Card playoff hopes are fading after a third straight loss to the Brewers yesterday.
Joe Block recaps the sorry end of the Bucs’ eight-game road trip.
After watching Nick Gonzalez get doubled off first base twice and Endy Rodriguez getting thrown out by a mile trying to go from first to third on a hit, manager Donnie Kelly says the Bucs need to play better fundamental baseball.
Kelly says the Bucs have hit a rough patch but they can’t give up.
Kelly says the Pirates can’t get down on themselves if they’re going to turn things around.
The slumping Pirates are back home looking for a reversal of fortune tonight as they open a three-game series against the Mets. This would be Mitch Keller’s turn in the rotation but he was placed on the 60-day injured list after last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati and manager Donnie Kelly has named Carmen Mlodzinski to return to the rotation tonight. Mlodzinski is 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA this season, but in the rotation at the beginning of the season, he was only 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA in nine starts. He last started May 25th against the Cubs. The Mets will use left-hander Zac Thornton (2-2, 2.88 ERA). Airtime is 6:15 with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 on WCCS.
