Yesterday we looked at the hitting leaders around the farm system. Today we take a look at the top pitchers for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Just like yesterday, I’ll split it into full-season and half-season groups. I added in ERA and WHIP for full-season relief pitchers, leaving off the short-season relievers for now because it’s such a small sample size for them. For starting pitchers in ERA and WHIP, I used 0.5 innings per team game. For the relievers I used a minimum of 25 innings. Stats are through July 17th, with a few notes included. Got all that?
Full-Season
Innings Pitched
- James Marvel, 108.2 (went seven more on Wednesday)
2. Eduardo Vera, 106
3. JT Brubaker, 102.1
4. Tyler Eppler, 101
5. Cam Vieaux, 99.2
ERA
- Travis MacGregor, 2.59
2. Nick Kingham, 2.65
3. Dario Agrazal, 2.79
4. Eppler, 3.21
5. Taylor Hearn, 3.23
Strikeouts
- Hearn, 96
2. Mitch Keller, 91
3. Brubaker, 88
4. Vieaux, 87
5. Alex McRae, 86
Walks
- McRae, 42
2. Oddy Nunez, 42
3. Keller, 39
4. Luis Escobar, 38 (had two more on Wednesday)
5. Brubaker, 37
WHIP
- Agrazal, 1.01
2. Kingham, 1.01
3. Vera, 1.08
4. Vieaux, 1.09
5. Hearn, 1.10
Reliever ERA
- Johnny Hellweg, 1.33
2. Bo Schultz, 1.43
3. Dovydas Neverauskas, 1.50
4. Scooter Hightower, 1.88
5. Jesus Liranzo, 1.96
Reliever WHIP
- Beau Sulser, 0.83
2. Hightower, 0.97
3. Liranzo, 1.06
4. Drew Fischer, 1.13
5. Neverauskas, 1.13
Short-Season
Innings Pitched
- Jesus Valles, 40.2
2. Yandy Vega, 35
3. Bryan Torres, 34.2 (pitched 2 IP on Wednesday)
4. Willy Basil, 33
5. Alex Manasa, 32.1
ERA
- Braham Rosario, 1.42
2. Argenis Romano, 1.53
3. Yeison Santos, 1.80
4. Bryan Torres, 2.08
5. Luis Nova, 2.54
Strikeouts
- Basil, 35
2. Luis Peralta, 34
3. Jesus Valles, 31
4. Francisco Hodge, 30
5. Aaron Shortridge/Angel Suero, 30
Walks
- Estalin Ortiz, 16
2. Arlinthon De Dios, 16
3. Oliver Garcia, 16
4. Starlyn Reynoso, 16 (he walked four on Wednesday, so he has 20 now)
5. Luis Peralta/Yoelvis Reyes/Oliver Mateo, 15
WHIP
- Braham Rosario, 0.95
2. Jesus Valles, 1.00
3. Bryan Torres, 1.01
4. Nicholas Economos, 1.07
5. Argenis Romano/Francis Del Orbe, 1.08
I know the accumulating stats favor the DSL players, but I already broke it down into two groups and it doesn’t hurt to learn their names. For those wondering, Argenis Romano and Oliver Garcia are with Bristol, Alex Manasa, Francis Del Orbe, Aaron Shortridge and Nicholas Economos are with Morgantown, and Luis Nova is in the GCL. The rest are DSL players.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates were off yesterday. They are now on the All-Star break. They resume play on Friday in Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds. Jameson Taillon will get the start that night.
The minor league schedule includes Cody Bolton starting for West Virginia. He set career highs with seven innings pitched and nine strikeouts in his last start. JT Brubaker has made 13 starts with Indianapolis. During that time he has a 2.75 road ERA and a 5.46 ERA at home. Altoona starter Cam Vieaux had his shortest outing of the season last time out, giving up three runs over four innings. Morgantown starter Alex Manasa allowed one run over six innings in his last start. In his previous three outings combined, he gave up 15 runs over 14 innings. Gavin Wallace makes his third start for Bradenton. The GCL Pirates are off today.
MLB: Pittsburgh (48-49) @ Reds (43-53) 7:10 PM 7/20
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (3.91 ERA, 103:30 SO/BB, 106.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (50-44) @ Gwinnett (43-52) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: JT Brubaker (4.01 ERA, 53:29 SO/BB, 67.1 IP)
AA: Altoona (49-43) @ Reading (44-50) 7:15 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Cam Vieaux (2.51 ERA, 35:4 SO/BB, 43.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (46-46) vs Daytona (50-42) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Gavin Walllace (4.85 ERA, 6:2 SO/BB, 13.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (50-41) @ Lexington (48-45) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Cody Bolton (2.83 ERA, 42:6 SO/BB, 41.1 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (11-21) vs State College (13-19) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Alex Manasa (5.29 ERA, 18:14 SO/BB, 32:1 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (12-15) vs Burlington (7-21) 7:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Oliver Garcia (5.74 ERA, 14:16 SO/BB, 15.2 IP)
GCL: Pirates (10-13) vs Phillies 12:00 PM 7/20 (season preview)
DSL: Pirates1 (19-20) vs Indians/Brewers 10:30 AM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates2 (14-23) vs Giants 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
From Bradenton, you get to see the speed of Jared Oliva as he doubles in the gap
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
7/16: Nick Burdi assigned to Bradenton on rehab.
7/16: Eric Wood placed on disabled list. Alfredo Reyes promoted to Indianapolis.
7/16: Pedro Vasquez placed on disabled list. Luis Escobar promoted to Altoona.
7/16: Jake Brentz activated from Bradenton disabled list.
7/16: Christopher Bostick assigned to GCL on rehab.
7/15: Pirates sign Alexander Mojica
7/15: Austin Meadows optioned to Indianapolis. Pirates recall Tanner Anderson
7/15: Clay Holmes optioned to Indianapolis
7/14: Austin Coley activated from Altoona disabled list.
7/14: Bo Schultz placed on Indianapolis disabled list. Jackson Williams activated from DL.
7/14: Pirates place Francisco Cervelli on DL. Recall Jacob Stallings and Clay Holmes.
7/11: Ardent Pabst promoted to Altoona. John Bormann assigned to Bradenton.
7/11: Mitch Keller and Clay Holmes assigned to Indianapolis. Sean Rodriguez assigned to Indianapolis on rehab.
7/10: Joe Musgrove activated from disabled list. Alex McRae optioned to Indianapolis.
7/10: Jackson Williams placed on disabled list.
7/10: Mitch Keller assigned to Bradenton.
7/9: Sean Rodriguez assigned to Bradenton on rehab.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Eight former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including two born on the same day 152 years ago. Starting with the most recent players first, we have pitcher Brian Smith (2000), pitcher Vincente Palacios (1987-88, 1990-92), catcher Nick Koback (1953-55), lefty pitcher Earl Hamilton (1918-23), catcher Jeff Sweeney (1919) and first baseman Harry Davis (1896-98). Palacios was a member of three straight NL East champs. Koback signed with the Pirates at the age of 17 and went right to the majors. In three seasons with the Pirates, he played a total of 16 games despite being in the big leagues the entire time from July 1953 until July 1955. Harry Davis was acquired from the New York Giants in exchange for Hall of Fame first baseman Jake Beckley, in a deal that didn’t work out well for Pittsburgh.
Two players from the 1897 Pirates were born 152 years ago today. Along with Harry Davis, three players from that team shared the same birthday, but pitcher Bill Hart and third baseman Jim Donnelly were born on the same date. Hart won over 300 games in pro ball, though 251 of those wins came in the minor leagues. He played pro ball from 1885 until 1910. Donnelly came over from Baltimore in a trade that included the Pirates all-time batting average leader, Jake Stenzel. The deal didn’t work out for the Pirates, as Donnelly hit .193 in 44 games. You can find more info on every player in the link above.
On this date in 1902, the Pittsburgh Pirates won 5-0 over the Chicago Cubs and played an entire nine inning game without any of their four infielders recording an assist. Hall of Famer Jack Chesbro started and pitched a complete game. He struck out six batters. The three outfielders from left to right were Fred Clarke, Ginger Beaumont and Honus Wagner. They recorded 12 of the outs on fly balls and Beaumont chipped in a 13th out on a double play after one of his catches. Catcher Jack O’Connor threw out one runner and Chesbro fielded two grounders himself. The other five outs were spread among third baseman Tommy Leach, shortstop Wid Conroy and second baseman Jimmy Burke on pop ups and unassisted putouts. Burke actually had a chance to pick up an early assist on a ground ball, but he committed the only fielding error of the game.
