Yesterday’s Morning Report was on the hitting leaders around the system for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Naturally, that would make today the pitching leaders in the system. Since there are fewer categories to look at, I’ll expand this from the top three (like yesterday) to the top five in the system. For ERA, WHIP and walks per nine innings, I used 75 innings minimum for starters. I also included ERA and WHIP for relievers at the bottom using 20 appearances minimum. I left off Seth McGarry, who would have been the ERA and WHIP leader for relievers, because he was included in the popular Joaquin Benoit deal.
Innings Pitched
1. Drew Hutchison – 143.1
2. Alex McRae – 133.2
3. Cam Vieaux – 129.1
4t. Austin Coley – 128.2
4t. Pedro Vasquez- 128.2
ERA
1. Tyler Glasnow – 1.79
2. Steven Brault – 1.94
3t. Dario Agrazal – 2.99
3t. Mitch Keller – 2.99
5. Pedro Vasquez – 3.15
WHIP
1. Tyler Glasnow – 0.97
2. Mitch Keller – 1.00
3. Dario Agrazal – 1.04
4. Steven Brault – 1.07
5. Pedro Vasquez – 1.14
Strikeouts
1. Luis Escobar – 153
2. Tyler Glasnow – 113
3. Drew Hutchison – 110
4. Steven Brault – 109
5. Taylor Hearn – 106
Walks Per 9IP
1. Eduardo Vera – 1.1
2. Dario Agrazal – 1.3
3t. Austin Coley – 2.0
3t. Pedro Vasquez – 2.0
5t. Alex McRae – 2.2
5t. Cam Vieaux – 2.2
Reliever ERA
1. Tate Scioneaux – 1.85
2t. Daniel Zamora – 1.89
2t. Montana DuRapau – 1.89
4. Geoff Hartlieb – 2.23
5. Miguel Rosario – 2.38
Reliever WHIP
1. Tate Scioneaux – 0.88
2. Geoff Hartlieb – 1.06
3. Montana DuRapau – 1.07
4. Johnny Barbato – 1.15
5. Sam Street – 1.17
** I’m leaving this little section here and just updating the numbers daily for the next week or so. 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 two others haven’t been eliminated just yet. Indianapolis has 15 games left over the final 14 days, including today. Altoona has 14 games left. Bradenton is down to 14 games, and West Virginia is at 13 left. Morgantown still has 17 games left without an off-day between now and September 7th. Bristol is down to 10, while the GCL has 11 (plus the completion of a suspended game) and the DSL has just five left.
PLAYOFF PUSH
The Pirates trail in their division by seven games. They are eight games back for the second wild card spot.
Indianapolis is in first place, with a 4.5 game lead. Their season ends September 4th.
Altoona is tied for first place 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, three games out of first. Their season ends September 4th.
Morgantown is in first place, one game 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 have been eliminated from the playoffs.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 6-5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. They will send Jameson Taillon to the mound today for his 19th start. He has posted an 8.13 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break and a 5.09 ERA in ten starts at home this season. The Dodgers will counter with right-hander Brock Stewart, who has a 1.64 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in two starts and seven relief appearances this season.
In the minors, Tyler Glasnow possibly makes his last start for Indianapolis tonight. In his last outing, he gave up three runs, which was the first time he has allowed more than two runs in a game since being sent down. Glasnow has recorded 10+ strikeouts in seven of his 12 starts. Mitch Keller makes his fourth start for Altoona. He has allowed two runs over six innings in all three starts. Bristol will send Max Kranick to the mound for his first start since he was promoted over the weekend. Morgantown goes with Gavin Wallace, who has allowed two runs over his last 26 innings.
MLB: Pittsburgh (60-65) vs Dodgers (88-35) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (4.64 ERA, 32:98 BB/SO, 97.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (70-57) vs Louisville (50-77) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Tyler Glasnow (1.79 ERA, 27:113 BB/SO, 75.1 IP)
AA: Altoona (66-60) @ Hartford (58-68) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Mitch Keller (3.00 ERA, 5:21 BB/SO, 18.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (65-57) @ Daytona (47-74) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Logan Sendelbach (3.48 ERA, 20:52 BB/SO, 75.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (60-63) vs Charleston (69-57) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Eduardo Vera (3.72 ERA, 14:97 BB/SO, 111.2 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (34-25) @ State College (30-29) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Rookie: Bristol (12-44) @ Greeneville (30-27) 7:00 PM
GCL: Pirates (19-29) vs Blue Jays (30-19) 12:00 PM
DSL: Pirates (34-32) vs Astros Orange (25-41) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is another defensive highlight from Cole Tucker. He’s been pulling off above average plays regularly since he joined the team.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
8/22: Hunter Owen assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/21: Pirates option Jacob Stallings to Indianapolis.
8/21: Brandon Cumpton promoted to Indianapolis. Jacob Brentz activated from Altoona disabled list.
8/21: John Bormann assigned to Bradenton.
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.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Six former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus one of the longest games in Major League history.
Doug Bair, 1976 and 1989-90 pitcher. Bair has the longest period between appearances with the Pirates. He was a 2nd round pick of the Pirates in 1971 and he pitched 584 games in the majors.
Wally Hebert, 1943 pitcher. Before the Pirates took him in the Rule 5 draft after the 1942 season, the last time Hebert played Major League ball was in 1933 for the St Louis Browns. After throwing 184 innings in his only season in Pittsburgh, he retired from baseball.
Lyle Bigbee, 1921 pitcher. His brother Carson played 11 season for the Pirates, while the older Bigbee got in five relief appearances during his time in Pittsburgh.
Harry Swacina, 1907-08 first baseman. Pirates paid $3,000 to purchase his contract from the minors. He .200 in 26 September games in 1907 and .216 in 53 games in 1908 before he was released.
Ned Hanlon, Hall of Fame manager, who played outfielder and managed for Pittsburgh in 1889 and 1891. You can read a bio for Hanlon here, covering his time in Pittsburgh.
Howie Camnitz. Pitched nine seasons in Pittsburgh, winning 116 games. In 1909 when the Pirates won their first World Series, he won 25 games, which hasn’t been topped by a Pirates’ pitcher since. Camnitz had a 1.56 ERA in 1908 and 1.62 in 1909, giving him the second and third best season ERA’s in franchise history. He threw a five inning no-hitter during the 1907 season. His brother Harry pitched for the 1909 team. A full bio for Camnitz can be found here.
On this date in 1917, the Pirates and the Brooklyn Robins played 22 innings at Ebbets Field. Reliever Elmer Jacobs took the loss despite allowing one run in 16.2 innings. Carson Bigbee had six hits. You can view the boxscore here. The Pirates had already played extra innings in three straight games before this one.
