For the first time this season, both of the Pirates top two prospects will go on the same night. Gerrit Cole will get the start for Indianapolis, while Jameson Taillon will make the start for Altoona. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. We have added a Recent Transactions section to the bottom of this page, for all Pirates minor league transactions. A full recap of yesterday’s action can be found here.
AAA: Indianapolis (16-7) VS Gwinnett (12-11) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.76)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 5, Lehigh Valley 1
Gerrit Cole will make his fifth start of the season tonight. He has had trouble with his pitch counts in three of his four starts so far. Cole has pitched just 16.1 innings this year, despite his low ERA. He has issued 11 walks already and made it past the fourth inning just once. Cole has 14 strikeouts, a 1.13 GO/AO ratio and a .226 BAA. Right-handed batters are hitting .094 against him. This will be his fourth start at home.
AA: Altoona (9-12) VS Erie (11-8) 6:00pm
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (2-1, 2.63)
Yesterday’s Result: Erie 7, Altoona 3
Jameson Taillon will make his fifth start of the year, as he looks to bounce back from a rough start on Monday. Taillon went six innings that day, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out a season low three batters. In his previous outing, he threw seven shutout innings and in the appearance before that, he struck out a career high ten batters. He faced Erie in his season debut, throwing five shutout innings. Taillon has 23 strikeouts in 24 innings, with a 1.30 GO/AO ratio and a .209 BAA.
High-A: Bradenton (7-14) @ St Lucie (13-8) 6:30pm
Probable starter: Robby Rowland (1-0, 3.38)
Yesterday’s Result: St Lucie 5, Bradenton 2
Robby Rowland will get his fifth start of the season and for the fourth time, he will be making his start on the road. Rowland has pitched a total of 18.2 innings, giving up 18 hits, two homers, five walks and he has struck out 15 batters. Four of those five walks he has issued, came during his first start. Rowland has had trouble against Left-handed batters this year(.387 BAA), while righties are batting just .150 against him.
Low-A: West Virginia (9-13) @ Savannah (13-8) 6:05pm
Probable starter: Orlando Castro (2-1, 1.77)
Yesterday’s Result: Savannah 4, West Virginia 2
Orlando Castro will make his fifth start of the season tonight. He has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any start, twice throwing shutout ball. In 20.1 innings, Castro has allowed just one home run and one walk, both coming in his last start. He has 18 strikeouts, twice putting up six K’s in one game. He has thrown nine shutout innings on the road this year. Castro has a 1.50 GO/AO ratio and a .227 BAA.
Recent Transactions
4/26 Jose Contreras promoted to Indianapolis
4/24 Traded Roman Colon to the Atlanta Braves
4/24 Placed Tyler Waldron and Jason Townsend on the disabled list. Added Justin Howard and Ethan Hollingsworth to Altoona roster
4/24 Assigned Jonathan Schwind to West Virginia roster. Reassigned Lance Breedlove to Extended Spring Training
4/23 Brandon Inge promoted to majors. Alex Presley sent down to Indianapolis. Oscar Tejeda sent to Altoona
4/23 Assigned Charlie Morton to the Altoona roster
4/20 Assigned Francisco Liriano and Jose Contreras to the Altoona roster
4/19 Released Alex Valdez
4/19 Bradenton added Junior Sosa to their roster. Sent Daniel Grovatt to Extended Spring Training
