Notes: Another Bad Week; Prospects Promotion Scorecard; Injuries, News

Kids keep comin...

Notes:

• The Bucco trip didn't improve much in St. Louis. They were one swing away from being no-hit in the third game, all Card wins, spared only when Cal Mitchell doubled on a two-out, two-strike pitch from Miles Mikolas. It was their ninth straight loss, though they salvaged the Redbird finale before heading home to face the Giants. It took an eight-out save by David Bednar to close out the 6-4 win. The Bucs repeated the scenario, losing 2-of-3 before taking the set finale against the Giants in Pittsburgh as Jack Suwinski went 3-for-3, all dingers, and the last being a ninth-inning, walk off long ball.
• Pittsburgh recalled SS Liover Peguero from Altoona on Friday to replace IF Tucupita Marcano, who was placed on the Covid IL. He started Saturday and notched his first MLB hit. The Bucs are catching some heat for not calling up Oneill Cruz, but Peguero is a Top #100 MLB/#5 Pirates prospect, so he's earned his shot. Cruz will be here Monday, per Shelty, when the Pirates have to cut a pitcher to get to the 13-man limit. The Pirates have held him back this long because of service time and apparently wanted to leave themselves a little wiggle room before pulling the trigger. Joining him will be OF Bligh Madris, who has recently been getting time at first base and should see some platoon action there with Michael Chavis. Earlier in the day, OF Canaan Smith-Njigba, who suffered a broken right wrist in St. Louis, went on the 60-day IL, with LHP Cam Vieaux getting the call from Indy. Cam worked the same day, tossing 1-2/3 scoreless IP with three K's.

Oneil Cruz, released from service time jail - 2022 Topps Heritage

• On Tuesday, the Pirates called up OF Canaan Smith-Njigba (Do the Pirates have any RH outfielders in the system?) and utilityman Hoy Park for the St. Louis series. Canaan collected his first MLB hit, a double, in his first big league at bat. To make room, OF Travis Swaggerty finished his cup of coffee and along with LHP Aaron Fletcher was optioned to Indy. And no, there often doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to the way the Pirates construct their roster or lineup.
• RHP Duane Underwood Jr. was placed on the Covid IL on Monday; Indy C Jason Delay, a member of the travel taxi squad, was activated. He played the next day in the opener of a twin bill, then was optioned to Indy (actually, just returned to the taxi squad) to clear a roster spot for RHP Heath Hembree, who came off the IL.
• RHP Bryse Wilson was the 27th man and starting pitcher for Tuesday's twin bill against the Cards. He was pounded, giving up seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits (three homers) in five frames.
• RHP Mike Burrows, 22, was promoted to Indy. Since he's started with the Pirates as an 11th round pick in '18, he's hit every rung of the Bucco system without repeating a level - Rookie, Lo A, Hi A, Fall Ball, AA and now AAA...just one more step. He's 4-2/2.94 with 12 K per nine innings for the Curve in 12 starts.
• The Yankees' Clay Holmes has tossed 31-1/3 straight scoreless innings, claiming a franchise record held before by Mariano Rivera. His ERA is 0.28.