Pitching Depth Taking Hits, Lineup, Notes...

• The Pirates are on ESPN today at 1PM against the Detroit Tigers, with Wandy Rodriguez facing Rick Porcello. The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Russ Martin C, Cutch CF, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Jose Tabata RF, Josh Harrison 3B, Jordy Mercer SS and Wandy. It's raining in Bradenton, so we'll see...
• Pittsburgh and Baltimore played to a ten inning, 7-7 tie. Cutch and Starling Marte went deep for the Bucs while four Birds homered, three coming off Gerrit Cole, who went 6-2/3 innings. A couple shots were no-doubters, but it was a blustery Florida day, so it's hard to spot a trend quite yet.
• That deep Pirate pitching is getting tested. Edinson Volquez is still a project, Francisco Liriano has a tight back and will miss his next Florida start (he's slated to throw a bullpen Wednesday) and maybe the beginning of the season, and Jameson Taillon has elbow soreness. He passed an MRI, which showed no structural damage, but is still getting a second opinion. Jeff Locke is just beginning to throw again after an oblique tweak...guess that's why the FO likes to go into camp eight deep.
• If you're wondering who in the Bucco farm system should be on your radar, here's John Sickel's list of 42 from Minor League Baseball.
• John Dreker of Pirates Prospects reported that the Bucs cut six more minor league players; none were from the upper levels.
• Ex-Bucs: Joel Hanrahan is recovering well enough that he's now working out in Florida and getting ready to throw his first showcase for the scouts.