For an in depth review of yesterday’s games please check out our minor league wrap-up which can be found here. The Pirates minor league teams are a combined 9 games over .500 with approximately 3 weeks left in the minor league season. Bradenton has a three game lead for the 2nd half title in their division with 21 games left in their season.
AAA: Indianapolis (64-57) @ Louisville (61-60) 6:05pm
Probable starter: Sean Gallagher (5-11 5.01)
Indianapolis is in 2nd place in their division, 12 games back of Columbus, who they play 4 more times this season. In the wildcard standings they are in 3rd place, 4 games behind 1st place Lehigh Valley. They have 23 games left this season and they will play their next 7 games against Louisville.
AA: Altoona (53-64) VS Reading (59-59) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Phillip Irwin (5-3 4.31)
Phillip takes the mound for the 11th time with Altoona, 10th as a starter. He allowed just one earned run in 5.2 innings during his last start on Sunday but he got a no decision. He hasn’t walked a batter in his last 3 starts and while with Altoona he has a 5/42 BB/K ratio. On the season between Bradenton and the Curve he has pitched 20 games posting a 10-3 2.90 record with 17 walks and 82 strikeouts in 109.2 innings.
High-A: Bradenton (59-58 overall 29-18 2nd half) @ Jupiter (49-69 overall 17-31 2nd half) 6:35pm
Probable starter: Nate Baker (7-7 3.77)
Nate will get his 21st start of the season, he has also pitched four games in relief. In his last start he threw 6.2 innings allowing just one run on 2 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Since the all-star break he has a 4-3 3.13 record in 9 starts and one relief game covering 54.2 innings pitched. With 119.1 inning pitched on the year, he is the only Bradenton pitcher to surpass the century mark in that category. His 82 strikeouts are six behind team leader, Brett Lorin.
Low-A: West Virginia (55-60 overall 19-27 2nd half) VS Charleston (46-71 overall 20-27 2nd half) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (2-2 4.52)
Taillon will make his 19th start of the year tonight. He has struggled of late posting a 6.52 ERA in his eight starts since the all-star break. He has allowed a home run in each of his last four games and in his last start he walked a career high 3 batters. Jameson has struck out 73 batters in his 71.2 innings pitched giving him the highest K/9 rate(9.2) among any starter in the system with at least 10 starts. He has not won a game since his first start in June.
Short Season A: State College (22-33) VS Connecticut (24-28) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Ryan Hafner (2-3 2.74)
Ryan makes his 10th start and 11th overall appearance tonight. He has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 8 of his 10 games this season including his last five in a row. His last start, on Monday night, was his best of his pro career. He threw 6 shutout innings giving up just 2 hits, walking none and striking out four. Ryan has walked 10 batters while striking out just 9 in his starts at home this year, on the road he’s walked 5 and struck out 17.
Rookie: GCL Pirates (26-21) VS GCL Phillies (21-24) 10:00am
The GCL Pirates are currently in 2nd place, 5.5 games back in the standings.
VSL: VSL Pirates (40-32)
The VSL Pirates have finished their season. They won the VSL pennant for a sixth straight year.
DSL: DSL Pirates (38-23) VS DSL Mets2 (23-40) 10:30am
The DSL Pirates are in 2nd place, 1.5 games back of the DSL Royals who they play two more times this year. Their season ends on August 19th.
