We haven’t checked out the leaders around the system for awhile, so now seems like a good time to look at some offensive stats. The four full-season teams have each played over 120 games, so for the stats such as average, OBP and slugging, I’m going to use 250 plate appearances as the minimum to be listed below. Here are the top three hitters in several offensive categories. I also have some quick notes on the remaining minor league schedules, which gives you a better idea of what you’re looking at with the Playoff Push section.
Batting Average
1. Jordan Luplow – .306
2. Jordan George – .301
3. Hunter Owen – .291
OBP
1. Jordan George – .390
2. Hunter Owen – .387
3. Jordan Luplow – .386
Slugging
1. Hunter Owen – .504
2. Logan Hill – .491
3. Jordan George – .475
Runs
1. Jordan Luplow – 68
2. Christopher Bostick – 64
3. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 63
Hits
1. Christopher Bostick – 128
2. Edwin Espinal – 125
3. Kevin Newman/Jordan Luplow – 119
Doubles
1. Christopher Bostick – 31
2. Edwin Espinal – 28
3. Will Craig – 26
Triples
1. Cole Tucker – 9
2. Casey Hughston – 8
3. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 7
Homers
1. Jordan Luplow – 23
2. Logan Hill – 18
3. Edwin Espinal – 15
RBI
1. Edwin Espinal – 76
2. Logan Hill – 61
3. Jerrick Suiter – 60
Steals
1. Cole Tucker – 41
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 27
3. Alfredo Reyes/Eury Perez – 22
** The minor league schedule is really winding down at this point. As shown in the Playoff Push section, four of the eight affiliates have a legit shot at the playoffs, while three others haven’t been eliminated just yet. Indianapolis has 16 games left over the final 15 days, including today. Altoona has 15 games left. Bradenton is down to 14 games, as is West Virginia. Morgantown still has 18 games left without an off-day between now and September 7th. Bristol is down to 11, while the GCL has 12 (plus the completion of a suspended game) and the DSL has just six left.
** The Pirates let go of GCL manager Bob Herold over the weekend, with two weeks remaining in the season. Dave Turgeon, who was serving as the Coordinator of Instruction in the minor leagues, takes over the position to finish out the season. Turgeon managed for three years in the system when the Pirates had an NYPL affiliate in State College and Jamestown. Herold had 527 wins as a college coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha before signing with the Pirates this off-season.
PLAYOFF PUSH
The Pirates trail in their division by 6.5 games. They are seven games back for the second wild card spot.
Indianapolis is in first place, with a 3.5 game lead. Their season ends September 4th.
Altoona is in second place, one game back and three games ahead of third place. The top two teams make the playoffs. Their season ends September 4th.
Bradenton is in fifth place, 8.5 games behind. Their season ends September 3rd.
West Virginia is in third place, two games out of first. Their season ends September 4th.
Morgantown is in first place, two games ahead. Their season ends September 7th.
Bristol has been eliminated from the playoffs.
The GCL Pirates are in third place, 6.5 games behind. Their season ends September 2nd.
The DSL Pirates are in fourth place, 4.5 games back. Their season ends August 26th.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates won 6-3 over the St Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. The Pirates now begin a four-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They will send Gerrit Cole to the mound today for his 26th start. He has posted a 3.13 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break and a 3.97 ERA in 11 starts at home. The Dodgers will counter with lefty Alex Wood, who has a 2.30 ERA in 117.1 innings, with 122 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP. He threw five shutout innings and struck out 11 batters against the Pirates in early May.
In the minors, Nick Kingham gets the start for Indianapolis tonight. After allowing eight runs in his start on July 19th, he has given up a total of five runs over his last five starts combined. Brandon Waddell goes for Altoona. He allowed five runs in his last start after giving up four runs total in his previous three starts combined. Luis Escobar is 17 strikeouts short of the West Virginia team record set by Tyler Glasnow in 2013. Morgantown claims they will start Scooter Hightower today. Bristol will send Hunter Stratton to the mound today, followed by Max Kranick tomorrow. The DSL begin their last week of play today and they could be eliminated from the playoffs as early as today. Bradenton has off today.
MLB: Pittsburgh (60-64) vs Dodgers (87-35) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (4.04 ERA, 38:141 BB/SO, 153.2 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (69-57) vs Louisville (50-76) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Nick Kingham (3.66 ERA, 26:82 BB/SO, 96.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (65-60) @ Hartford (58-67) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Brandon Waddell (4.37 ERA, 24:42 BB/SO, 47.1 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (65-57) @ Daytona (47-74) 7:05 PM 8/22 (season preview)
Probable starter: Logan Sendelbach (3.48 ERA, 20:52 BB/SO, 75.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (60-62) @ Greenville (69-56) 1:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Luis Escobar (4.07 ERA, 53:147 BB/SO, 115.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (34-24) vs Mahoning Valley (31-25) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Rookie: Bristol (12-43) @ Greeneville (29-27) 7:00 PM
GCL: Pirates (18-29) vs Blue Jays (30-18) 10:00 AM
DSL: Pirates (34-31) vs Astros Orange (24-41) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is the 14th home run of the season by Danny Ortiz. All of them have come since June 15th.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
8/20: Pirates recall Jacob Stallings.
8/20: Trae Arbet placed on disabled list. Shane Kemp assigned to West Virginia.
8/19: Steven Brault optioned to Indianapolis. Dovydas Neverauskas recalled from Indianapolis.
8/19: Barrett Barnes assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/19: Max Kranick promoted to Bristol.
8/19: John Bormann assigned to Indianapolis.
8/18: Wade LeBlanc placed on disabled list. Steven Brault recalled from Indianapolis.
8/18: Joey Terdoslavich activated from disabled list.
8/17: Francisco Cervelli placed on disabled list. Max Moroff recalled from Indianapolis.
8/15: Gregory Polanco placed on disabled list. Elias Diaz recalled from Indianapolis.
8/15: Austin Meadows activated from disabled list. Jackson Williams assigned to Indianapolis.
8/15: Tomas Morales activated from Altoona disabled list.
8/14: Gage Hinsz activated from disabled list. Jake Brentz assigned to Altoona and placed on disabled list.
8/12: Phil Gosselin claimed on waivers by Texas Rangers.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Eight former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including the Major League single-season leader for triples.
Chief Wilson was in his second season in the majors when he played on the 1909 World Series team. He hit .272 that year and played 154 games. By 1911, he hit .300 and drove in 107 runs. The next year, he clubbed 36 triples, setting an MLB record that still stands and hasn’t even been approached since, with 26 being the highest total since then. Wilson stayed around Pittsburgh until 1913 when he was part of the inexcusable Dots Miller trade to the Cardinals. Wilson had a rifle for an arm, picking up 181 assists in his nine-year career.
Jeff Clement, first baseman in 2010 and 2012. Came over from the Mariners in the Jack Wilson/Ian Snell trade.
Jesse Chavez, reliever for the 2008-09 Pirates. Came over from the Rangers in a deal for Kip Wells.
Ramon Vazquez, 2009 infielder. Signed a two-year deal, but ended up lasting just one season.
Lou Collier, shortstop for the 1997-98 Pirates. Hit .246 in 110 games during the 1998 season.
Murry Dickson, pitcher from 1949 until 1953. Pirates purchased him from the Cardinals for $125,000. Won 20 games for the 1951 Pirates. Finished 66-85, 3.83 in 137 starts and 91 relief appearances during his five seasons in Pittsburgh, playing mostly for last place teams.
Cobe Jones, shortstop for the 1928-29 Pirates. Played the last game of the 1928 season and 25 games the next year.
Jim Mosolf, outfielder for the 1929-31 Pirates. Batted .462 during September of 1929. Played 40 games during the 1930 season, just six as a starter. Mosolf played even less often in 1931, with 39 games total and four starts all season.
