Morning Rundown: Pirates snap losing streak, Bubba Chandler strikes out 11, draft pick makes debut
Pirates snap losing streak, Bubba Chandler strikes out 11, another draft pick debut
The losing streak for the Pittsburgh Pirates is over at 10 games after they defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-3 Friday night.
Yasmani Grandal hit his fifth home run of the season, with Isiah Finer-Falefa and Oneil Cruz hitting doubles. Paul Skenes picked up his seventh win of the season, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six batters.
David Bednar picked up the save, although he still allowed a home run off Jorge Polanco in the ninth.
The win came at a cost, as Cruz and Andrew McCutchen left the game with injuries. Ryan Palencer reported that Alika Williams was heading to Pittsburgh after the game.
Bailey Falter is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates on Saturday, who will be opposed by Luis Castillo.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET.
Bubba Chandler has now pitched 13 innings at the Triple-A level. He’s allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out 17.
Oh, and he has yet to allow a run.
The Pirates’ top prospect tied a career-high in strikeouts with 11 on Friday, generating 16 whiffs. The fastball got up to 99 mph, but the slider really carried this time out. He generated a whiff rate right at 50% with his slider and had a dead-even usage split between it and his fastball (40% each).
He also mixed in his curveball and change-up.
Chandler lowered his season ERA to 3.18, with 111 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched.
The 2024 draft picks continue to work their way to Bradenton to close out the season. The Pirates’ 15th-round pick, Nathan Lege, made his professional debut on Friday, going 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Bradenton had four picks from the 2024 draft in the lineup on the night. Will Taylor, the team’s fifth-round pick, hit a grand slam on Thursday for his first professional hit.
Connor Wietgrefe, drafted in the seventh round out of Minnesota, debuted earlier in the week and is currently listed as the start on the MiLB app for Saturday’s game.
3B Ethan Lege assigned to Bradenton Marauders
Bradenton Marauders transferred C Justin Miknis to the Development List
Bradenton Marauders activated LHP Hunter Furtado from the 7-day injured list
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Top Exit Velocity
Ke’Bryan Hayes - PIT - 108.8 mph - Groundout
Billy McKinney - IND - 108.5 mph - Home Run
Malcom Nunez - IND - 105.7 mph - Single
Michael A. Taylor - PIT - 105.5 mph - Single
Yasmani Grandal - PIT - 102.8 mph - Home Run
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 103.6 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 103.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 102.6 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.9 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 100.8 mph
Most Whiffs
Bubba Chandler - IND - 16
Carlson Reed - GBO - 13
Paul Skenes - PIT - 10
Valentin Linarez - GBO - 9
Carlos Jimenez - BRD - 8
Indianapolis Indians - 3 vs St. Paul Saints - 2
Top Hitter - Billy McKinney: 2-3, R, RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 11 K
Altoona Curve - 2 vs Bowie Baysox - 8
Top Hitter - Mike Jarvis: 1-3, R, RBI, HR, SB
Top Pitcher - Beau Sulser: 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Bowling Green Hot Rods - 3
Top Hitter - Hudson Head: 2-4, R, 3B
Top Pitcher - Carlson Reed: 4.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Bradenton Marauders - 3 vs Dunedin Blue Jays - 6
Top Hitter - Yordany De Los Santos: 1-4, 2B
Top Pitcher - Magdiel Cotto: 1.1 IP, H, BB
DSL Pirates Black - 3 vs DSL Cubs Red - 1
Top Hitter - Michell Ojeda: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, SB
Top Pitcher - Irwin Ramirez: 5 IP, 3 H, 6 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 5 vs DSL Brewers 2 - 3
Top Hitter - Cristian Jauregui: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR, SB
Top Pitcher - Ronaldys Jimenez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K
The most encouraging aspect of Chandler’s performance (IMO,) was his slider, I know the FB is plus, to plus-plus, his change is above average it as far as I understood his breaking pitches were lagging behind…
Well, almost a veritable lock that Paul Skenes and Jackson Merrill of SD will finish 1-2 either way in the ROY Voting, thereby assuring both will earn a full year of MLB Service. I think Merrill started the season with the Padres going straight from AA (.782 OPS in ~200 PA) in 2023 to starting CF in 2024 for the Padres. Skenes only had about 5 innings or professional ball in 2023, and was promoted to the Pirates in early May 2024.
I know what the rules say, but the Pirates acted very responsibly in how they handled Skenes. The difference in a Starting Pitcher is getting him and his arm from being a once a week Pitcher in college to a start every 5th day pitcher in pro ball. The Pirates org will not like losing a year of service, but whether he pitched 100% of the year or 75% of the year, the Pirates got the benefit, and he deserves the benefit provided by the CBA. Anybody out there in the PR business that can estimate his worth to the Pirates and the City of Pittsburgh in 2024 from a public relations standpoint? Begin with him being selected to start the All Star Game, and the appearance and interview of he and Livvy D on the red Carpet. He put the Pirates on Page 1.