Charlie Morton will get the start in Indianapolis tonight, as he prepares to make it back to the majors for the first time since returning from Tommy John Surgery. Two new teams are on the daily schedule as the Dominican Summer League season got under way a week ago today. For a look at the players to watch on the DSL teams, check out our season preview here. For a look at the possible starters over the next few weeks, please check out our Probable Pitchers Chart. Check out the 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 (42-21) vs Norfolk (37-25) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Charlie Morton (0-1, 4.26)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 6, Durham 5
Charlie Morton is scheduled to make his ninth rehab start tonight, his last before rejoining the Pirates. He has started once for Bradenton, four times for Altoona and now this will be his fourth start for Indianapolis. In his last outing, he went 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, four walks and four strikeouts. In his previous start, he allowed five runs over five innings to Pawtucket. Morton threw three no-hit innings in his AAA debut. With Altoona, he was 1-1, 2.41 in 18.2 innings. Between all three stops, batters are hitting just .189 against him.
AA: Altoona (25-35) vs Binghamton (36-25) 6:00pm
Probable starter: Casey Sadler (6-3, 3.33)
Yesterday’s Result: Binghamton 3, Altoona 2 (live game recap)
Casey Sadler will make his 13th start of the season tonight. He leads the Pirates organization with 75.2 innings pitched. Sadler has allowed 69 hits, seven homers and 19 walks, while striking out 43 batters. He has a 1.96 GO/AO ratio and a .250 BAA, with lefties and righties both hitting .250 against him. In his last start, he gave up four runs over 5.2 innings. It was his second straight outing in which he allowed four runs. The first was on the road against Binghamton.
High-A: Bradenton (24-35) vs Ft Myers (40-18) 6:05pm
Probable starter: Robby Rowland (3-3, 4.36)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton 6 Ft Myers 5 in 10 innings
Robby Rowland will make his 12th start of the season tonight. He has pitched 53.2 innings, allowing 51 hits, four homers and 17 walks. He has 27 strikeouts, a 1.34 GO/AO ratio and a .254 BAA. In his last start, he threw five shutout innings, giving up five hits and a walk. Rowland has a huge split against right-handed and lefty batters. Righties are batting just .183 against him, while left-handers are hitting .358 with three homers. He has only 12 strikeouts in his last seven starts combined. In his two prior outings to that stretch, Rowland struck out 11 total hitters.
Low-A: West Virginia (32-28) vs Hagerstown (32-25) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Orlando Castro (6-3, 2.04)
Yesterday’s Result: Hagerstown 9, West Virginia 3
Orlando Castro will make his 12th start of the season tonight and his first since being named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team. He has pitched a total of 61.2 innings this year, allowing 57 hits, four homers and just five walks. Castro has 54 strikeouts, a 1.20 GO/AO ratio and a .248 BAA. In his last start, he gave up one run over six innings to Lakewood, allowing eight hits, no walks and he struck out five batters. Castro has not allowed a walk or a home run to a left-handed batter in 54 AB’s this season. At home this year, he is 3-1, 2.42 in four starts.
DSL: Pirates1 (1-4) vs Marlins (3-2) 10:30am
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates1 2, Phillies 0
DSL: Pirates2 (2-4) vs Mets1 (3-3) 10:30am
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates2 9, Cardinals 8
Recent Transactions
6/7 Andrew Lambo promoted to Indianapolis from Altoona.
6/6 Barrett Barnes activated from DL. Junior Sosa sent to Bradenton
6/6 Zachary Von Roseberg activated from DL. Jhondaniel Medina sent to West Virginia
6/6 Stefan Welch traded to Red Sox organization
6/5 Jake Burnette placed on disabled list retroactive to 6/3
