Andy Oliver has been named the starter for Indianapolis today, moving up a day to replace Phil Irwin, who will start for the Pirates. Joely Rodriguez and Oliver will be the first Pirates minor leaguers to make their third start of the year today. Bradenton was able to pick up their first win of the season last night. All four games today are early afternoon starts. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. A full recap of yesterday’s action can be found here.
Probable starter: Andy Oliver (0-0, 0.00)
Yesterday’s Result: Columbus 2, Indianapolis 1 (game one) Indianapolis 5, Columbus 0 (game two) (Game Recap)
Andy Oliver will get his third start of the season today. He had thrown a combined 11 shutout innings, with 11 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. His only downside has been three walks in each start, a problem in the past for Oliver, who has walked 168 batters over the last two seasons combined. An Indianapolis team preview can be viewed here.
AA: Altoona (4-5) VS Harrisburg (5-5) 1:00pm
Probable starter: Tyler Waldron (0-1, 6.00)
Yesterday’s Result: Harrisburg 3, Altoona 1 in 10 innings
Tyler Waldron will make his second start of the season today. In his season debut, he allowed four runs over six innings, giving up seven hits and one walk, while striking out three hitters. Waldron recorded 11 outs on ground balls. He pitched late last season for Altoona, making six starts. He went 1-2, 4.05 in 26.2 innings, with 11 walks and 15 strikeouts.An Altoona team preview can be viewed here.
High-A: Bradenton (1-8) VS St Lucie (6-3) 1:00pm
Probable starter: Eliecer Navarro (0-2, 4.00)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton 4, St Lucie 3 (Game Recap)
Eliecer Navarro will get his second start of the season today. He has also made one relief outing. In his season debut, he went three innings, giving up one run on four hits, no walks and he struck out four. In his only start, he allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings. Navarro is in his seventh season in the Pirates organization. A Bradenton team preview can be viewed here.
Low-A: West Virginia (3-7) @ Asheville (6-4) 2:05pm
Probable starter: Joely Rodriguez (0-1, 5.00)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 14, Asheville 9
Joely Rodriguez will make his third start of the season today, the first Pirates minor leaguer to reach that mark. He gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out eight, in his season debut. Rodriguez gave up four runs(three earned) on five hits over four innings, in his second outing. He served up two homers in that game and in both starts, he has walked two batters. A West Virginia team preview can be viewed here.
