The Pirates enter the weekend with a 52-50 record, seven games behind the first place Brewers and a game-and-a-half out of the third and final National League Wild Card slot. Joe Block previews the series opener tonight in Phoenix.
The Pirates have eight of their last ten games and four of their six games since the All-Star break while the D-Backs have won seven of their last ten games and are just a half-game in front of the Bucs in those Wild Card standings.
Bryan Reynolds played the first 101 games of the season for the Pirates before missing Wednesday’s game with reported back spasms. Now the Pirates have put the All-Star leftfielder on the bereavement list. He must sit out at least three games, although Wednesday’s missed game would count if he is ready to return by Sunday. Ji Hwan Bae was recalled from Indianapolis and added to the taxi squad. He was hitting .360 for the Indians this season.
The Pirates have traded Indianapolis outfielder Gilberto Celestino to the Cubs for cash considerations. He hit .271 with three home runs at Indy this season after signing as a free agent in the offseason.
The Bucs have signed three more draft picks, including their highest selection so far, right-handed high school pitcher Levi Sterling, who was taken with the competitive balance pick at number 37 overall. Sterling signed at the full-slot bonus of more than $2.5 million.
Also signing with the Pirates were power-hitting centerfielder Ian Farrow, the 14th round choice; and 15th-rounder Ethan Lege, a third baseman.
It’s been a long road back for Mike Burrows, a top right-handed pitching prospect who is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Last night he made his first Triple-A rehab start, giving up one run on four hits with five strikeouts in four innings of a 7-2 win over Iowa.
MLB
The Marlins yesterday traded relief pitcher A.J. Puk to the Diamondbacks for two minor league prospects. Puk will be in uniform against the Pirates tonight.
A player the Pirates may have been targeting is off the trade market. Tampa Bay traded outfielder Randy Arozarena to Seattle yesterday for two minor league prospects and a player to be named later. The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year has had an off year this season, batting .211 with 15 home runs a year after making the American League All-Star team
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona got another strong starting pitching performance but the Curve lost their sixth straight game, 5-4 in ten innings at Erie. Po-Yu Chen gave up just one run in seven innings. Tres Gonzalez and Nick Cimillo each had two hits for the Curve, who will start Thomas Harrington tonight.
