The Pittsburgh Pirates (17-8) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (13-12) in game three of a three-game series today, with first pitch set for 12:35 PM.
Mitch Keller (2-0, 3.64) will be on the mound against lefty Julio Urias (3-2, 3.33), with both pitchers making their sixth starts of the season.
With the day game after a night game, plus travel coming up for the team, Drew Maggi is getting the start at third base today. Not sure how long he will stick around, but it’s nice to see him get the start today. With the way Miguel Andujar is playing, he may join the Pirates soon.
**There was some sad news today with the passing of Dick Groat.
**There was some bad news with Tommy John surgery for Mike Burrows. Link has some good news on Endy Rodriguez.
**Update on the Nick Gonzales news here from this morning
**Yesterday’s Prospect Watch in case you missed it.
Here are the lineups:
Pirates
A new look at third base today.
📺 AT&T SportsNet
📻 KDKA 100.1 FM & 1020 AM | The PRN #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/KtwtZTBRIO— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 27, 2023
Dodgers
Today’s #Dodgers lineup at Pirates: pic.twitter.com/tWtwF33iF0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 27, 2023
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
Pirates lead MLB with quality start percentage over 60% this year
Last year it was 23 percent
2021 it was 15 percent
Back-to-back super-quality starts with K’s>=baserunners allowed 🙂
RN, the starters have 13 wins. Last year, no starter won a game until May 9. At the end of May they had three. All year they won 21.
And while we all know that wins aren’t really a measure of a pitcher, they are indicative of how long they’re pitching into a game. If a bunch of these guys are averaging 5-6 a start as opposed to less than 5, that means a) they’re pitching well because they’re still in there and b) each extra inning they pitch saves the pen a bit.
Yeah, the pendulum on wins swung a bit too far. There is value there because getting a win depends on pitching well but also deeper into games.
Yeah, in context I think that’s the biggest story of a first month with a lot of good stories. Marin is the MVP so far.
I wonder whether .191 Heyward thinks this was the Pirates’ second best game of the year.
And I wonder whether the Dodgers wish they’d ditched Mr. .191 and shelled out a whole lot to sign Cutch.
Maggi made NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/27/1172490786/drew-maggi-mlb-debut-pirates
Something Magical going on ‘round here!
Missed another Dodger sweep by that much……
That first game loss is a bit more painful now! 🙁
You had me nervous I jinxed them for the past few hours.
Hahaha unjinx worked!
Not many people expected the Pirates to be in the same league as Dodgers this year…AND THEY WERE RIGHT! Pirates are way F’ing better!!!
these dudes need to watch more WWF promo segments to make these Robbie interviews much more entertaining
Raise it
RAISE IT!!!
New winning streak 😎
Outman with the golden sombrero. Tough day
Moar R5 guy.
And Bolton.
Shelton with the pitching matchup strategery.
Am I supposed to start believing in DUJ now?
Shhhhsssssssshhhhhh don’t jinx it DUJ has quietly put up a few quality games in a row. That’s all I have to say about that….. 🙂
Smh Dodgers outfielders…
Damn! Hopefully Maggi gets one more AB. That was close.
Assuming it comes in the bottom of the 7th or 8th.
Keller’s evolving into the type of starter where you get him early or not at all. A lot of great pitchers have been like that.
Back to work, Bob. Not done yet.
Do you think a 6 year for $60 million with a club option for $15 million for a 7th year be in the ballpark?
Yes. I was thinking $15m for the next 2 years of control, plus $12m for the next 4 years would be a 6 year $63 million.
9 outs to go. Let’s get ‘em!
Do you see why I love him?
Rodolfoooooooooooo!
I LOVE THIS TEAM!!! BACK TO BACK
LET’S
F$@)$+&
JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEE
BOMB!
Is Stephenson available? Probably not. Does DUJ get the 7th?
Conner Joe has gone 0fer since the FG article, it’s like the Madden cover curse, let’s hope he can break the curse this AB
I like your style.
You flipped the jinx
Prayers answered
You were saying… lol
Pretty awesome seeing Mitch grow up.
Mitch is a big boy now!
It’s quite shocking Keller never had a back to back Win! Bullpen holddddd
What’s he getting the K’s with?
A lot of called strikes with four seam!
Another QS….
Go get more runs for Keller!
Connor Joe just did!!!!! 😃
And Castro 😊
Yes! Was about to post the same!!!!
Jack, when in doubt guess low and away please.
times two.
Sigh.. baserunning giveth, baserunning taketh
#Ace
#extendKKKKKKKKKKeller
Dick Groat went straight from Duke to the majors with no time in the minor leagues
You guys think Jacob Wilson could do the same thing for us this year?
Please, tell me you’re not serious. Pro sports are a totally different animal now than in the 1950s. There wasn’t even a baseball draft until 1965. On the other hand if the Pirates use the #1 pick on Wilson they will already have done an incredibly dumb thing, so who knows?
Mike Leake did it
You say that is an incredibly dumb thing while at the same time talk about how great Bubba, Solo and Tank are…
I think Nady did too, but the fact that we could only name two tells you the odds!
Cutch line drive will eventually fall for hits, right?
BABIP God, please!
Phew!!!
Lefties hitting Keller today, no curve no cutter today.
I am amazed that Jason Heyward bats third for the Dodgers. 6 guys in their starting line up are hitting below the Mendoza line. Go spend more money Dodgers.
Jinxed?..🙁
But they will probably all leave hitting over 200.
Unjinxed?
Here’s a good factoid:
Just a day or two ago, the Pirates were something like ninth in MLB in FG’s baserunning runs. Pretty good, right, especially after being a bad baserunning team for years? Going into this game, they were third.
Dodgers pitchers and catchers seem horrible at holding runners. Mostly pitchers
I’m happy Mr. Groat knew he was inducted to the Pirates hall of famer before he passed away but wish he could have stayed just a little longer! 😞 RIP
Listening to my favorite Pittsburgh announcer Rob King tell stories about Dick Groat is amazing!
This team will steal your booty, drink your rum, and have their way with your women, Dodgers!!!
Lol!!
Last three years, the top of the first would have been the opening to another dreary, 9-1 loss. This year it just seems to motivate them.
I also can’t quite get over the SBs, which they now lead MLB in easily. I was never a fan of the running game, especially after McClendon tried to stategerize his way to wins with a very bad team. Now, I want to see them run at every chance. They’re screwing opponents up.
Pitch clock/limited disengagement is a runner’s friend.
I am with you there. I love the increase in SB’s.
I almost went back to last few years mode and was about to just go do something else. And they just respond like that right away! 😊
If Suwinski really starts making better contact & hits off lefties just a little more.. he’s going to be real good. Feeling positive!
wonder if anyone has ever tried to make a career out of that no swing of the bat?
like playing ping pong reflexes
This is fun!
Incredible!
This team.
I just love how they’re playing right now. Just good baseball. 👊🏻
Does Maggi know that Urias stole his glasses????
BUNT TRIPL333
Little league mayhem!