Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Wednesday: Blue Jays In Town, Yesterday's Recap & Notes

Game: Toronto takes on the Buccos at LECOM Park. The game begins at 1:05 and is on MLB Gameday.

Lineup: Lonnie Chisenhall RF, Jason Martin CF, Melky Cabrera LF, Josh Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli DH, Colin Moran 3B, Pablo Reyes 2B, Kevin Newman SS, Jake Stallings C (Clay Holmes P). Jose Osuna, Kevin Kramer, Cole Tucker, Will Craig and Arden Pabst are penciled in as mid-game relief.

Pablo is at second today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Clay Holmes gets the call v RHP Matt Shoemaker. LHP Frankie Liriano and RHP's Kyle Crick, Dovy Neverauskas, Aaron Slegers, Nick Burdi and Luis Escobar are also in the queue to toss today.

Yesterday: Mitch Keller's first spring training start wasn't one to remember - he gave up two runs on three hits in the first frame, although the linchpin knock was a two-out double not very well played by JB Shuck. Pittsburgh bounced back in the fourth. Pat Kivlehan legged out a knock, and with one gone, Bryan Reynolds and Kevin Kramer banged out back-to-back two-baggers. Jason Martin's two-out single put the Pirates up 3-2. The Bucs added on in the fifth on a Kivlehan dinger. but Brandon Maurer couldn't hold the lead after a walk, wild pitch, error by Will Craig and a couple of knocks. Blake Weiman couldn't douse the flames and it was 6-4 Minnesota.

Cole Tucker manufactured a run in the seventh. He was plunked and came around after a bunt, error and wild pitch. But that would be it; the Buccos could muster no more than a walk over the last two frames and dropped their first Grapefruit match 6-5. Pittsburgh had just six hits and both sides were sloppy; Pirates fielding has been quite meh this week. And while Mitch Keller hit a speed bump (he and Maurer were both hurt by miscues), JT Brubaker had a nice start, spinning two frames of one-hit ball for the day's silver lining.

Notes:
  • C Steven Baron made a tumbling dive into the Twin's dugout to snag a foul pop; Jim Colony of 93.7 The Fan promptly dubbed him "Robber Baron," noting that Andrew Carnegie would be proud... click here to catch Steven's catch
  • Doc Emrick will join Greg Brown and Steve Blass in the booth for today's webcast of the game.
  • Jason Rollison of Bucs Dugout takes a look at third base; like shortstop, it could very well be a matter of finding a seat warmer until 2020.
  • It's on the back burner now, but the Bucs have a bumper crop of arb-eligible guys next year. Dave Slusser of Rumbunter looks at the players and  financials involved.
  • MLB Pipeline took a look down the road at 2021 Prospects; they singled out SS Oneil Cruz for the Bucs. 
  • MLB just signed a three-year deal with the indie Atlantic League, which will serve as its rules/equipment guinea pig.

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