Notes: 4-Win Week, Injury Report, Indy & Altoona MVPS, Assorted Stuff

Like sand in an hourglass...

The Miami Marlins were the week's first challengers. Paul Skenes set the table with nine K and a Pirates rookie record for whiffs before Aroldis Chapman made it a nail-biter, but the Pittsburgh nine prevailed, 3-2. Oneil Cruz went deep and Bryan Reynolds two-out, two-run single proved to be the game-winner. It was a bullpen game next, and the makeshift staff, buttressed by Cutch's three-run bomb, hung on to take a 6-4 decision over the Fish. Bailey Falter took a no-hitter into the seventh of the get-away game, and the Bucs supported him just enough to broom the Fish, 3-1, despite a shaky ninth.

Bailey Falter - 2024 Topps Heritage

After a day of rest, the Pirates closed their 11-game homestand, the season's longest, with a three-game set against the KC Royals. On Friday the 13th, Federal Street might as well have been Elm Street; KC buzz-sawed Bucs, 8-3; Luis Ortiz had a horrid inning and the Buc batters fanned 14 times. Game 2 went as badly, with the Pirates dropping a 5-1 contest, but hey, only 13 Ks. At least they got it right on MLB's Roberto Clemente Day, salvaging a 4-3 dub.

No time off next week - it's four against the Cards at St. Looie, starting Monday, and then three v the Reds in Cincy.

Moves/Injuries:

• Per Shelty, as of today, surgery is not a consideration for Ke’Bryan as they try to strengthen his back. A not very reassuring progress report to date: Hayes has yet to do any baseball activities since landing on the IL in mid-August, but has been rehabbing his core.
• C Henry Davis was diagnosed with a left hand contusion and hasn't taken part in any baseball activities since hitting the IL on 9/8.
• News on pitchers who are long term injured: LHP Marco Gonzales underwent left flexor tendon repair surgery and is expected to be out for a year. RHP Dauri Moreta (TJ surgery, March) is playing catch and should be ready for games in June, right about on schedule. RHP Johan Oviedo (TJ surgery - March) has been throwing since May and is projected to be ready to begin regular pitching activities during spring training.

Stuff:

• For the magic numerologists among us: the Pirates were officially eliminated from the NL Central Division race during the weekend. 
• Joe Landolina of Last Word on Sports takes an outsiders look at expiring Bucco contracts and his take on whether they should be renewed,
• More Miami, plz - the Bucs finished 7-0 against the Marlins this year.
• FWIW: GM Ben said that he “fully expects” Derek Shelton to return as manager. 
• DH Andrew McCutchen passed Ralph Kiner for the most 20+ HR seasons as a Bucco when he posted his eighth (he has 10 in his career) with a three-run shot against the Marlins at PNC Park on Tuesday. But team leader Willie Stargell can rest easy - his 15 years with 20-or-more dingers as a Pirate are money.

David Bednar - Clemente Award Nominee 2024 Pirates image

• Dave Bednar was selected as Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente Award nominee.
• The Pirates had an Adam Frazier tribute video for the scoreboard cued on Friday when Fraze returned to town with the Royals. He homered.
• Guess which system MLB Pipeline ranks as having the top pitching prospects...?
• IF Liover Peguero was chosen as Indy's MVP - his story and the other Indian award-winners are posted on the team's website.
• IF Kervin Pichardo was selected as Altoona's MVP with RHP Bubba Chandler chosen as the POTY. The Curve awardees are announced here.
• The Dodgers Tyler Glasnow (9-6/3.49 - 22 starts), who was signed this year to a 5-year deal, has been on the IL with a sprained elbow since mid-August and is expected to miss the rest of the season after his rehab was derailed by elbow discomfort during the weekend.
• Utility guy Pablo Reyes was DFA'ed by the Mets.
• Promising but injury-ridden reliever Nick Burdi (Pirates 2018-20) was DFA'ed and then outrighted by the Yankees.