The Houston Astros jumped on the Pirates early last night and didn’t let them get back up. Greg Brown recaps the Monday night loss.
Manager Derek Shelton says Pirates starter Roansy Contreras was not sharp.
Shelton says the Astros’ Framber Valdez was his usual steady self, and the Pirates couldn’t get it going against him.
Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz will be out about four months after surgery to repair a broken tibia and ligament damage in his high ankle area. Shelton said Cruz was smiling and “in better spirits” after suffering the injury in a slide at home plate on Sunday against the White Sox. As to what to do about Cruz’s absence from the lineup, the Bucs called up infielder Mark Mathias from Indianapolis and started him at second base last night, with Rodolfo Castro moving over to shortstop.
Shelton says he will have to make some adjustments to get a good lefty/righty balance at the plate.
Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is the MLB Player of the Week after his hot start at the plate. Reynolds hit .480 with a 1.120 slugging percentage, 12 RBIs, 28 total bases, and a league-leading four home runs in the season’s first week.
For Game Two of the series tonight, the Pirates will send Mitch Keller [1-0, 3.86 ERA] to the mound against the Astros’ Cristian Javier [1-0, 3.27 ERA]. 6:10 airtime, 6:35 first pitch on WCCS.
MLB
The Red Sox’ Adam Duvall was placed on the injured list yesterday with a fractured left wrist. He had surgery last summer to repair a torn tendon sheath on the same wrist. Duvall had been hitting .455 with four home runs and 14 RBI in eight games. The team is uncertain if surgery is required and there is no timetable for his return.
