It was a terrible start for the Pirates on their nine-game road trip. Joe Block recaps the loss in Chicago.
The series continues tonight. Righthander Mitch Keller [12-9, 4.04 ERA] starts for the Pirates against lefthander Justin Steele [16-4, 2.73 ERA]. It’s a 7:15 airtime, 7:40 first pitch on WCCS.)
The Pirates promoted pitcher Kyle Nicolas from Indianapolis yesterday and optioned pitcher Thomas Hatch to Indy. Nicolas was a starter for Altoona this year but after his promotion to Triple-A he struggled and was switched to the bullpen, where he had a 1.20 ERA in his twelve most recent appearances. Unfortunately, he took the brunt of the Cubs’ 8th inning onslaught, giving up six runs on three hits with two walks in just a third of an inning.
Andrew McCutchen was transferred to the sixty-day injured list to open space for Nicolas on the Pirates’ forty-man roster.
Second baseman Nick Gonzalez had a big night last night in Indianapolis’s 19-1 win over Rochester. The former number one draft pick hit for the cycle and walked, driving in five runs.
MLB
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani underwent elbow surgery on Tuesday and he’s expected to return to the mound in 2025. Ohtani is expected to be available as a hitter on Opening Day next season. The 29-year-old had suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on August 23rd but continued to bat until he suffered an oblique strain in early September.
Ohtani has played his entire MLB career with the Angels, but is set to hit free agency after this season. He hit .304 with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs this season.
