Morning Rundown: Bubba Chandler has another dominant outing, more pitching performances in the system
Bubba Chandler sets new career mark in strikeouts in latest start.
Bubba Chandler continued the tear he’s been on since returning from his brief injured list stint.
He recorded his second straight double-digit strikeout game on Thursday, and now has 21 punch-outs in his last 13.2 innings pitched.
Facing the Akron RubberDucks, Chandler generated 21 whiffs, striking out a career-high 11 batters over 6.2 innings pitched.
Chandler now has 35 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched this June, while posting a 2.49 ERA.
It was a good day of pitching in the system, as Chandler wasn’t the only one with a strong start.
Hung-Leng Chang pitched seven innings of one-run ball, walking one and striking out another five. It took him just 83 pitches, 56 of which were strikes, to make it through the entire start.
Down in the Complex, Zander Mueth picked up a win in his third straight start, each of which he’s pitched five innings.
His first inning was a bit rough, as Mueth walked two batters as well as there being two errors in the frame. The outing brings his season ERA down to 1.65.
Up in Jersey, Derek Diamond pitched 5.1 innings pitched, striking out three. The lone run he allowed was by ways of a home run.
Diamond has pitched well in Greensboro this year, with a 4-1 record and a 3.83 ERA across 47 innings pitched.
The Pittsburgh Pirates open up a three game series against the Atlanta Braves on the road Friday.
Martin Perez will come off the injured list to make his first start since May 26. He will be followed up by Paul Skenes and Bailey Falter.
After winning two of three against the Reds earlier in the week, the Pirates now sit with a record of 39-41—good for third place in the NL Central. They are also two games out of a Wild Card spot.
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Top Exit Velocity
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 106.8 mph - Single
Liover Peguero - IND - 106.7 mph - Home Run
Alika Williams - IND - 105.2 mph - Groundout
Braylon Bishop - BRD - 104.9 mph - Double
Joey Bart - IND - 104.3 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 97.2 mph
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 97.1 mph
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 96.7 mph
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 96 mph
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 95.8 mph
Most Whiffs
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 21
Jake Woodford - IND - 11
Hung-Leng Chang - BRD - 11
Brandan Bidois - GBO - 9
Jack Carey - ALT - 7
Indianapolis Indians - 3 vs Rochester Red Wings - 4
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Michael Plassmeyer: 2 IP, 5 K
Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Rochester Red Wings - 5
Top Hitter - Seth Beer: 2-3, 2 RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Jake Woodford: 5.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 8 K
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Akron RubberDucks - 4
Top Hitter - Carter Bins: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 11 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - vs
Top Hitter - Josiah Sightler: 2-4, R, 2B
Top Pitcher - Brandan Bidois: 1.2 IP, BB, 5 K
Bradenton Marauders - 6 vs Clearwater Threshers - 3
Top Hitter - Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Hung-Leng Chang: 7 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K
FCL Pirates - 5 vs FCL Rays - 2
Top Hitter - Tony Blanco Jr.: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Zander Mueth: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K
DSL Pirates Black - 18 vs DSL Mariners - 5
Top Hitter - Kendrick Herrera: 3-5, R, 4 RBI, BB, SB
Top Pitcher - Wifrailyn Jaquez: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 11 vs DSL Tampa Bay
Top Hitter - Samuel Escudero: 4-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, hit for cycle
Top Pitcher - Keuri Almonte: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K
Small sample size but Mac keeps hitting. Chandler added to Keller, Skenes, Jones makes the Pirates' starting pitching exponentially better. Put it this way.
You add Ashcraft to the big three and I'm chubbin'. Add Chandler and I'm full blown woody.
Pushing Jones back to Sunday makes more sense then skipping him entirely this go around for the rotation. He would still get a few extra days off and this would give the team a better chance of winning the series.