The Pirates are half a game up on the Brewers in the NL Central, and they take on Milwaukee for the first time this year in a three game series this weekend.
Rich Hill takes the mound for the Pirates. The lefty has pitched into the sixth inning in each of his last five starts, and has gone into the seventh in both of his previous two starts.
I wrote yesterday about how the battle between the Cubs and the Pirates might have been the battle of the best in the NL Central. The Pirates are currently 5-2 on the season against both the Reds and the Cardinals. The Cubs swept them in the first three games between the two teams.
Heading into this series, I’d put Milwaukee in the same tier as the Reds and Cardinals, which would be below the Cubs. You hope that the Pirates are with the Cubs, and not in the four-team tier fighting for second place. We’ll start to get a better idea of where they stand with this weekend series in Milwaukee — a scenario that hasn’t always played well for the Pirates.
PIRATES GAME PREVIEWS
PIRATES (34-33) AT BREWERS
Game Time: 8:10 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Rich Hill, LHP (6-5, 4.23)
Brewers Starter: Julio Teheran, RHP (1-2, 1.48)
Pirates Lineups:
How we’re lining up tonight in Milwaukee.
📺 Apple TV+
📻 93.7 The Fan | The PRN#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/Qi0OofTiyY— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 16, 2023
Brewers Lineups:
Rockin' our powder blues tonight.
📺: Apple TV+
📻: @620wtmj #ThisIsMyCrew | @fleet_farm pic.twitter.com/zzZmgbsW7f— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 16, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS (29-35) AT IOWA
Game Time: 8:08 PM EST
Projected Starter: Cam Alldred, LHP (2-0, 3.58)
Latest Features:
6/7: Aaron Shackelford adjusts swing and relocates power
6/6: Carmen Mlodzinski improves all the way with aggressive approach
5/26: Potential Plan For Jared Triolo Becoming More Clear
ALTOONA (30-28) AT SOMERSET
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/9: Jared Jones Continues Incredible Development With Altoona
6/1: Matt Gorski Displays Athleticism And Versatility
5/25: Sean Sullivan Continues To Thrive In Altoona
GREENSBORO (33-25) AT GREENVILLE
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Projected Starter: Po Yu Chen, RHP (2-4, 4.73)
Latest Features:
6/15: Anthony Solometo Promotion A Win For 2021 Draft Class
6/14: Bubba Chandler Looking To Limit Big Innings
6/4: Braxton Ashcraft Showing Velocity and Control in Return From Tommy John
BRADENTON (31-29) VS FORT MYERS
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/10: Jack Brannigan Continues Hot Streak With Another Home Run
6/9: Ryan Harbin: Sinker/Slider Mix Dominating Single-A Hitters
6/3: Thomas Harrington Displayed Swing and Miss Secondary in Bradenton
FCL PIRATES (6-2)
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/16: Is This The Year For A Solomon Maguire Breakout?
6/12: Pirates 2023 Minor League Preview: FCL Pirates
6/11: Pitching Depth Continues To Grow With Jun-Seok Shim Debut
DSL PIRATES BLACK (4-4)
Game Time: 11:00 AM EST
Projected Starter: Carlos Mateo, RHP (0-0, 67.50)
Latest Features:
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DSL PIRATES GOLD (5-3)
Game Time: 11:00 AM EST
Projected Starter: Yojeiry Osoria, LHP (0-0, 0.00)
Latest Features:
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
THE NEW PROSPECT WATCH
With all of our game reports now going into this daily article, the Prospect Watch has been repurposed as a daily look at three prospects throughout the system. Check the site each day at noon for the latest edition. We’ll keep the archives updated here.
6/15: Shalin Polanco, Abrahan Gutierrez, Will Matthiessen
6/14: Nick Cimillo, Geovanny Planchart, Jesus Castillo
6/13: Brandan Bidios, Yordany De Los Santos, J.P. Massey
6/12: David Matoma, Jun-Seok Shim, Tsung-Che Cheng
DAILY PIRATES NEWS
Anthony Murphy wrote about Solomon Maguire, who was signed to a big deal out of Australia following the Starling Marte trade.
**Pirates Prospects Daily: Is This The Year For A Solomon Maguire Breakout?
In the latest mock draft from MLB Pipeline, Dylan Crews is the pick.
**Dylan Crews Goes to Pirates in Latest Mock Draft
With Colin Holderman going down, the Pirates are a bit more thin in the later innings. I like Yerry De Los Santos as an MLB reliever. I also like Dauri Moreta’s chance of stepping up and replacing Holderman. The problem I see is that De Los Santos probably won’t immediately replace Moreta’s role, which makes the entire bullpen weaker. I already thought they needed an established guy to spell David Bednar, and with their unexpected winning, that’s turned into a small issue already. This team could use bullpen help, at the least.
**Pirates Recall Yerry De Los Santos; Colin Holderman Heads to the Injured List
More Recent Pirates Features
6/15: Where Are The Hitting Prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates Farm System?
6/14: Pirates Roundtable: The Book on Osvaldo Bido
6/11: Interview With Andrew McCutchen
6/10: Williams: How Much Depth Do the 2023 Pirates Have Left?
PIRATES RECAP
By Wilbur Miller
Check back at the end of the night for all of the daily results throughout the system, or, join the discussion in the comments if you’re following Live.
Final Score: Brewers 5, Pirates 4
Player of the Game: Carlos Santana 2-for-4, HR (6)
Recap:
Rich Hill dug a hole for the Pirates in the first inning and, despite some excellent chances at the end, they weren’t able to dig themselves out. The 5-4 loss to the Brewers was their fourth in a row and knocked them out of first.
After getting a leadoff walk erased by a double play in the bottom of the first, Hill seemed headed for an easy inning, but it turned out very differently. He walked three more batters which, combined with yet another catcher’s interference by veteran defensive wizard Austin Hedges forced in a run. Then a two-run single made it 3-0.
Facing Julio Teheran, the Pirates came up with a nifty solution for their struggles with runners in scoring position: they didn’t get any. Not for five innings, anyway. Teheran retired all but one batter, Carlos Santana, who led off the second with his sixth home run of the year. The only other run, in fact the only other runner, the Pirates got off Teheran was Ji-Hwan Bae, who led off the sixth with a walk. He stole second, then came around on a ground out and a sacrifice fly by Tucupita Marcano.
After that awful start, Hill somehow got through five innings, which probably shows why he’s still in the majors at age 43. He did give up a fourth run, naturally scored by another guy who walked, then came around on a double. Over five innings, Hill allowed just three hits but six walks.
Carmen Mlodzinski followed, making his major league debut. He got a number of firsts out of the way in short order. He got his first strikeout on the first batter he faced, allowed his first gopher ball to the second, and issued his first walk to the third. Then he got two more outs in the sixth and one in the seventh before yielding to Dauri Moreta.
By then, the Pirates had closed the gap to 5-4, but they could have had more. They loaded the bases with nobody out, but Josh Palacios hit into a force play at home. Ke’Bryan Hayes bounced a two-run single into right, but Palacios got thrown out at third. Hayes stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, only to have Bae strike out.
Moreta kept the gap at one into the ninth, but then things got really maddening. With one out, Jack Suwinski walked and took third on a double by Palacios. Hayes then looked at strike three, Bae walked, and Jason Delay — Hedges had departed for a pinch hitter — whiffed on a pitch well out of the strike zone.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
By John Dreker
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS
Final Score: Iowa 2, Indianapolis 1
Player of the Game: Nick Gonzales, 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, BB
Recap:
Indianapolis lost a quick low-scoring affair 2-1 to Iowa. Cam Alldred got the start, allowing two runs for the loss. He went six innings, with four hits, two walks and four strikeouts. He threw just 71 pitches.
Colin Selby returned for the first time in a month and tossed a scoreless frame. John O’Reilly also threw a shutout inning.
Nick Gonzales had a nice night, with his 12th double, fourth triple and a walk. He scored the lone run on an eighth inning single by Endy Rodriguez. That was the only hit for Rodriguez.
Jared Triolo also had a nice night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double.
Henry Davis played right field and went 0-for-4.
Cal Mitchell collected his 12th double.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA
Final Score: Altoona 6, Somerset 2
Player of the Game: Matt Fraizer, 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SB
Recap:
Sean Sullivan missed his last start with a minor injury. He returned on Friday night with 13 days between starts. He went 3.1 innings with one run allowed on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts. It was a solid outing, though not efficient. He needed 74 pitches to get through his night, with 44 going for strikes.
Nick Dombkowski got the win with one run over 4.2 innings. Juan Minaya closed the game out with a scoreless ninth.
Matt Fraizer had a nice day at the plate, which included his fifth homer of the season. He also had a single and a walk, finishing with three RBIs. He stole his sixth base of the season.
Matt Gorski hit his ninth homer
Liover Peguero collected three hits, including his 15th double. He also stole his 15th base.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO
Final Score: Greenville 7, Greensboro 6
Player of the Game: Jase Bowen 4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
Recap:
Jase Bowen had himself quite a day at the plate, but Greensboro lost the game in the bottom of the ninth, dropping a 7-6 decision to Greenville.
Bowen had four hits in the game, including his 12th home run. He also picked up four RBIs. He has driven in 46 runs over 50 games this year.
Po-Yu Chen had an average outing, allowing three runs over six innings, on seven hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. He has a 4.71 ERA this year, with 59 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP over 57.1 innings.
Santiago Florez allowed three runs in his only inning. Dante Mendoza tossed a scoreless eighth, but an unearned run scored in the ninth before he could record an out.
Maikol Escotto came in as a defensive replacement during the bottom of the ninth with two men on base. He then made an error on the first batter after he entered the game, which allowed the walk-off run to score.
Mike Jarvis had two hits, two runs and an RBI. Wyatt Hendrie scored two runs.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON
Final Score: Bradenton 6, Fort Myers 1
Player of the Game: Alessandro Ercolani 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO
Recap:
Alessandro Ercolani has been making some strong progress lately, which he turned into results on Friday. He tossed five shutout innings on one hit, two walks and four strikeouts. He has a 4.69 ERA through ten starts, with 39 strikeouts and a 1.64 WHIP in 40.1 innings.
Geronimo Franzua and Brandan Bidois each tossed a scoreless frame. Yoldin De La Paz allowed one run over two innings.
Shalin Polanco connected on his 11th double and his tenth homer. He’s up to a .796 OPS, after a very slow start in the batting average category.
Termarr Johnson went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs.
Rodolfo Nolasco hit a three-run homer, his eighth home run of the year.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
Final Score: Pirates 2, Orioles 1
Player of the Game: Isaias Uribe 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Recap:
Starter Isaias Uribe helped the Pirates to victory on Friday by tossing five scoreless innings in the 2-1 win over the Orioles. He allowed one run over 4.1 innings in his season debut last week.
Jackson Grounds tossed two scoreless innings. Roelmy Garcia allowed a run in his only inning, but good timing left him with the victory. Joaquin Tejada got the save with a scoreless ninth.
The Pirates scored in the second inning on a wild pitch. Their eighth inning run scored on a throwing error.
Yordany De Los Santos had a single, walk and three stolen bases, giving him seven steals on the year. He has a .345 average through seven games.
Axiel Plaz and Lonnie White Jr each went 1-for-4.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
Final Score: Giants 7, Pirates 3
Player of the Game: Samuel Escudero 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Recap:
This game had plenty of excitement at the start, which quickly went away for the Pirates, as they lost 7-3.
This was the second pro start of Carlos Mateo, who received the second highest bonus for the Pirates in this international signing class. His catcher was Jonathan Rivero, who received the highest bonus.
Mateo lasted just five batters due to reaching his pitch count, thanks to four walks. He only gave up one run, as Jarlen De La Paz stranded all three inherited runners, while getting the final two outs of the first inning. Mateo failed to get out of the first inning in his first start as well.
Rivero had a rough game as well, committing four passed balls. He went 1-for-4, giving him a .130 average and a .424 OPS.
Samuel Escudero had a big game, collecting two doubles, two RBIs and a walk. He now has a 1.167 OPS.
Angel Aquino had two walks, a single and a run scored.
Only three of the Pirates seven runs allowed were earned.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
Final Score: Pirates 3, Mariners 1
Player of the Game: Yojeiry Osoria 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO
Recap:
The Pirates won 3-1 on Friday behind the solid pitcher of Yojeiry Osoria, who threw four shutout innings on one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. He also threw four shutout innings in his season debut last week. Osoria was a highly regarded lefty pitching prospect when he signed for a $600K bonus. He has progressed slowly, partially due to the canceled 2020 season, while also dealing with an injury last year.
Hader Blanco allowed one run over three innings, which sent the game to extra innings (scheduled for seven). Rafael Mendez got the win with a scoreless frame.
The Pirates scored first in the fifth on an infield single by Roinny Aguiar. They took the lead in the eighth on a two-run double by Carlos Tirado. He had two of the team’s four hits in the game.
Eduardo Oviedo had two walks and two stolen bases. Daje Morales scored two runs, reaching base on a fielder’s choice and as the extra runner in the eighth.
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.
Having followed the Pirates fanatically since 1965, Wilbur Miller is one of the fast-dwindling number of fans who’ve actually seen good Pirate teams. He’s even seen Hall-of-Fame Pirates who didn’t get traded mid-career, if you can imagine such a thing. His first in-person game was a 5-4, 11-inning win at Forbes Field over Milwaukee (no, not that one). He’s been writing about the Pirates at various locations online for over 20 years. It has its frustrations, but it’s certainly more cathartic than writing legal stuff. Wilbur is retired and now lives in Bradenton with his wife and three temperamental cats.
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.