Bucs Edge Jays 2-1; Cahill In, Cederlind Out; Pre-Arbs Signed

Today's Game: 

Chase De Jong first toed the slab against the Jays, followed by Chris Stratton, Sean Poppen, Edgar Santana, Nick Mears,  and James Marvel. Dustin Fowler took his turn in center and Cole Tucker is back in the lineup at short after battling a thumb bruise.

De Jong started off with three zeroes, giving up a hit and walk with a whiff. It was all goose eggs from the rest of the staff, except for Mears. He was tagged for a run when ol Bucco prospect Reese McGuire led off the seventh with a double and plated after a right-side bouncer and sac fly. It just made it close as the Pirates took home a 2-1 win in a scheduled eight-inning match.

Chase De Jong - photo 2021 Pirates

The Jays gave the Buccos both their runs. Fowler walked, stole second, went to third on a wayward throw and scored on a wild pickoff in the first.  Rudolfo Castro got the game-winner with a little league homer; Toronto's CF dropped his fly and ho-hummed getting it in as Castro circled the sacks and scored with a head-first dive.

It was a day for the pitchers as the Blue Jays managed just four hits and the Pirates had three.

Notes:

• The Pirates are reported to have agreed to a $1.5M deal with 33-year-old free agent RHP Trevor Cahill, with another $1M available in bonus bucks. The 12-year vet went 1-2/3.24 (4.19 FIP) for San Fran in 2020 in 11 games (six starts), and in the past two years he's started 17 games in 48 outings for the Angels and Giants. Though it's assumed the Pirates brought him aboard to compete for a back end rotation spot, he offers a fallback position as a long guy/spot starter.
• RHP Blake Cederlind went on the 60-day IL with a UCL strain in his right elbow suffered during Wednesday's game. Hopefully, the injury isn't any worse; UCL's are often a precursor of TJ surgery. That move also clears a roster spot for Cahill.
• The Pirates agreed to contracts with all 30 of their pre-arb guys. Notables were Bryan Reynolds, Kevin Newman, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Edgar Santana, Mitch Keller, Cole Tucker, Geoff Hartlieb, Michael Feliz and Anthony Alford.

Tomorrow's Game:

JT Brubaker answers the bell against the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. The game starts at 1:05 and will be aired by 93.7 The Fan.