What will the Pirates do at the trade deadline?

     It's July 1st, which means it's getting to be time to seriously talk about some trades. Now, some have been made already. For instance, James Shields, Fernando Rodney, and Bud Norris were all dealt before July even hit. But, now is the real time we talk about trades, and for me specifically, Pirates trades. I love trades in baseball, but I obviously lean towards the Pirates' ones because they mean more to me. 

     So with the Pirates sitting a few games below .500, they still aren't out of the playoffs by any stretch of the imagination. The NL Wildcard has literally been a wildcard, and nobody really knows what to think about it. It got more complicated with the Dodgers placing Kershaw on the DL and Matz and possibly Syndergaard could have injuries for the Mets, as they both reportedly have bone spurs that could limit them and/or become a problem later on. Combined this with the face the Pirates are closer to getting healthy than not, or at least hopefully, it can be assumed that nothing is close to done yet. Now, will the Pirates buy or sell has been a debate many have talked about for a few weeks now. There are people on both sides of the argument, but I'm going to give my take on the whole thing. 

     Firstly, let's look at this team as a whole. The roster is stacked with talent and AAA is too. It's safe to assume the Pirates have it going on when they are playing their best. It's the fact they haven't that's the issue. However, when you look at the team as a whole, the one terrible thing that stands out is starting pitching. The bullpen will be fine, and the offense will do its thing, and oh yeah, the defense has been almost air tight. As for starting pitching, it hasn't done its job. 

     Going off of that, I don't think it's worth tearing this talented team apart just because they need one starter. Taillon and Kuhl have sort of helped, and Glasnow will help too if he comes up this year. This team is literally a starting pitcher and maybe a bullpen pitcher, if you want to get greedy, away from being a serious contending team. 

     The argument I see for selling is all the impending free agents or free agents to be after the 2017 season. Melancon, Watson, Feliz, Nicasio, Liriano, Niese, Rodriguez, Joyce, Freese, Jaso, and others fall into that category. That's a lot to lose in two years. Many people are also thinking that this is a transition year, so selling off these players now might be the best move for an organization like the Pirates. Whether organizations believe in transition years is not for me to decide, so I'll leave it up to the front offices. 

     For me, I think this Pirates' roster is the most talented one they've had in quite a long time. I think it'd be really hard to just give up on a team with so much potential. Even a team in a supposed "transition year" might have troubles doing such a thing. Take the Blue Jays last year as an example. They saw they had a good enough team and went for it. Pirates don't need to be as drastic as the Blue Jays were last year, but the comparison stands as such anyways. 

     I know everyone is quick to just assume losing means selling in Pittsburgh because we have been used to that. This year is a special case though. They have a very good roster, aren't that far out of it while teams ahead of them have injuries, they'll be healthy soon, and the schedule gets way easier now than it was in June. I don't think this team is selling unless they have a July that is similar to June. That is literally the only way. They may take it down to the wire and then decide to buy, sell, or do nothing. It's truly not etched in stone yet what this team will do come late July, but as of right now, I wouldn't sell. 

     However, July can change everything. If this team starts rolling, they'll be buyers. If they slide, they'll be sellers. If they hang around .500, who knows. As July unfolds, everything will become clearer to everyone what the intentions are for the Pirates and many teams around baseball. July is truly the month that decides how seasons go in the MLB. July can make it or break it. We will see which category the Pirates fall under. 

Pirates at Athletics series preview

     The Pirates were able to split with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field behind great pitching and the bats jumping on Miley early and often. They continue this west coast trip into Oakland to face the Athletics, or A's for short. I wouldn't say it's a chance for the Pirates to breath, but it's definitely an easier opponent than the Pirates have been getting recently, and throughout all of June. Weird that they turn the calendar and suddenly the schedule becomes easier. 

Friday: Sonny Gray (3-6 5.03 ERA) vs Jeff Locke (7-5 5.12 ERA) 10:05 ET

     Looking at it, these are two pitchers that don't look good in terms of numbers. However, these are two pitchers who have been better lately. Jeff Locke has enjoyed 2 of his better outings of his career in a row while Sonny Gray is trying to resurge into his former self. Despite Gray's struggles, the Pirates bats still must be weary of what he can do. He's still capable of being one of the best in the game. Let's see if the Pirates can hit him while he's down. 

Saturday: Rich Hill (8-3 2.25 ERA) vs Chad Kuhl (1-0 5.40 ERA) 10:05 ET

     Rich Hill has been one of the best stories in all of baseball this year, and for good reason. He owns one of the best ERAs in baseball while not even being in baseball for quite a while until last year. He may be one of baseball's most coveted trade prizes this month, but for right now he's still in Oakland. This means the Pirates will have to try to figure out the veteran lefty. As for the Pirates, Chad Kuhl doesn't avoid easier competition. He is coming off beating the best lefty, and the best pitcher, in all of baseball on Sunday, Clayton Kershaw. He's thrown right into the fire again here. If he wants to beat Hill, he will need to pitch a little bit better than he did on Sunday. In any case, it could be an up "Hill" climb for the Pirates. 

Sunday: Daniel Mengden (1-3 2.81 ERA) vs Francisco Liriano (4-8 5.33 ERA) 4:05 ET

     If you know nothing about Mengden, you aren't alone. He's one of many A's starters in recent years that people typically forget about. It's hard to forget about him once you see his glorious mustache though. It makes me think we are playing baseball from decades ago. Move over, John Axford. You have just been beat. But in all honesty, Mengden has actually been pretty good for the A's. For the Pirates, it's Liriano again. He coughed up a 4-0 lead on Monday against the Dodgers, furthering his struggles. Pirates certainly need better from Liriano or else this rotation might not go anywhere. 

     This is a series where the Pirates need to pounce on a lesser team. They haven't seen a lesser team in awhile. Pirates have been playing better these last couple of series' and that needs to continue. Pirates need to win this series. Though, it won't be easy with these pitching matchups. 

     

There's nothing to worry about regarding the Pirates bullpen

     The Pirates bullpen has seen its fair share of ups and downs throughout the season. It has been a very bumpy road for them, with players consistently getting swapped out to keep them fresh. However, as of right now, the Pirates bullpen has been trending upwards over the last week or so. We've seen this before with this team. Though, this time, I don't think it is just a phase. Nope, I think it is here to stay. 

     The first thing that will need noted is Juan Nicasio. Though he hasn't seen much action out of the pen yet, he has created enough of a difference in the bullpen by just his presence alone. I am going to compare it to Blanton from last year, not in the player by player comparison, but the presence rather. Joe Blanton in 2015 was able to come in and change the whole bullpen dynamic, while pitching well to boot. His ability to be used in both roles as a hybrid player was very convenient to how the entire bullpen is used. Clint Hurdle could use relievers way differently and more out of what he wanted to do, not what he needed to do. I think Nicasio could provide similar stuff. He could be filthy for 1-2 innings, but then also give you 3-4 innings for length other times. If he pitches effectively, then there shouldn't be a problem. 

      A very easy transition from Nicasio is AJ Schugel. Both have very similar features while being completely different pitchers. What they both do similarly is they are nastier in shorter outings, like I mentioned above for Nicasio, while both being able to give the Pirates innings if needed. Another hybrid guy. The difference is that Schugel relies more on offspeed stuff, mainly that changeup that is one of the most valuable pitches in baseball according to many. Schugel has also had a very incredible June that has propelled him into being a very good relief option in the league, above average in fact. 

     The other 5 guys in this bullpen will be used according to how Nicasio and Schugel are used. This and of course how the starters do. Pirates bullpen will rely on these two to help shape this bullpen back into a good one like it once was. 

     Besides those two, there are two relievers that need to be better than they are now, and those are Hughes and Caminero. Both, showing signs of life lately, have to return at least close to 2015 form. For that to happen, Hughes needs sinker command back to get his GB% back, which in turn will lead to less fly balls and hard contact. As for Caminero, it's all about the fastball for him. His best nights, he can control that fastball and get hitters on a string with everything else he's got. These two looking better lately gives me hope that they are capable of continuing this upward tick. 

     I'm not worried about the big 3 at the bottom at all. Feliz, Watson, Melancon have been very reliable outside of a select few occasions, which happens from time to time. If you are going to worry about one, it would be Feliz, but there's not much to worry about. He's been one of the best 7th inning guys in the game, and even has been used in the 8th if the matchups favor him over Watson. The former all-star closer has been a great commodity to have as early as the 7th. And of course Melancon has been one of the best closers in the game, as we all know. There is really never a reason to really worry about Mark Melancon at all. 

     The bullpen isn't as good as it has been in previous years, and we will have to accept that reality. However, there is no reason the bullpen put together this year cannot get the job done. I get that they've had problems, but if these pitchers do what many think they can and will, this team shouldn't have a problem when Hurdle does make that call to the bullpen. 

Dodgers at Pirates series preview

     The Pirates lost yet another series. They dropped 3 of 4 to the Giants after a promisingly shocking win in game 1 vs Bumgarner. The Pirates continue to struggle, and the road doesn't get much easier as they now tangle for a 4-game wrap around series against the Dodgers. The Dodgers have been playing better recently, so the Pirates are also catching them at the wrong time. 

Friday: Jameson Taillon (1-1 3.50 ERA) vs Nick Tepesch (0-0 0.00 ERA) 7:05 ET

     For the third time in his four starts, the Pirates are looking for Taillon to be the stopper. Things get dangerous when you ask a rookie to be that time after time. The silver lining is that he will go up against a pitcher that was recently released by the Rangers. This could be a really good time for the Pirates bats to get on track. It would be great if the Pirates can relax their rookie right-hander by getting him a ton of runs. 

Saturday: Jeff Locke (6-5 5.44 ERA) vs Kenta Maeda (6-4 2.64 ERA) 7:15 ET

     Jeff Locke pitched brilliantly on Monday, defeating Bumgarner. It doesn't get much easier for him on Saturday. He faces Kenta Maeda, who has arisen as a star in his rookie season in the MLB coming out of Japan. Jeff Locke will need to have his best if he wants to follow up beating Bumgarner by beating Maeda. 

Sunday: TBA vs Clayton Kershaw (11-1 1.57 ERA) 8:08 ET

     What's worse than facing Kershaw? Not knowing who you will pitch against Kershaw. Not that it matters most times who you put up against Kershaw, it would feel better to know. I'm going to assume that it's going to be Kuhl on Sunday against him. That seems to be the only option unless they want to go with a bullpen game, which this team can't afford right now. On the bright side, the Pirates hit Kershaw as well as any team can last year at PNC Park. If there is repeat success of that, the Pirates will at least have a shot. 

Monday: Francisco Liriano (4-7 5.17 ERA) vs Scott Kazmir (5-3 4.52 ERA) 12:35 ET

     Scott Kazmir was a huge signing by the Dodgers this offseason, but he has been underwhelming. The Dodgers are hoping that he gets right sooner rather than later. The Pirates hope he doesn't figure it out at PNC Park. The Pirates have an underwhelming left-hander as well in Francisco Liriano, who has struggled midely. He hopes to figure it out sooner rather than later as well. If they both have their stuff, this should be a fantastic pitching matchup. 

     Pirates find themselves in more "must win" situations if they want to contend. Losing 3 of 4 or worse would be awful. It would put the Pirates further into free fall. They need to get at least a split to stay afloat. If not, they will dig themselves a huge hole. 

Pirates don't have a starter for Sunday. At least not yet.

     Wilfredo Boscan pitched 3 effective innings for the Pirates before getting shelled in the 4th. This has lead to him getting sent back down to AAA to give the Pirates bullpen help. However, this has lead to the Pirates once again having a hole in the rotation. Nicasio isn't expected to be ready to start that day and neither will Cole. Also, Boscan cannot return within 10 days barring a DL stint, which is unlikely to happen. This means the Pirates will need another spot starter for Sunday. But who will it be?

     The first choice is Tyler Glasnow, but it is also the least likely one. There's no way he comes in right now. He has been inconsistent and lacks a third pitch. Pirates won't call him up until he's ready. He pitched on Wednesday in Indy anyway, which would put him on nowhere near enough rest to pitch Sunday. 

     The next option is Justin Masterson. He pitched in Boscan's spot in Indy on Tuesday, so he'd be on regular rest. However, I feel like the Pirates are really trying to avoid using him right now. I think we can all easily figure out why that is. I don't think he's even ready yet anyways, and I think the Pirates know that too. 

     What may be the most likely option is Chad Kuhl. Though he's been underwhelming in AAA lately, he seems like the perfect candidate to spot start. He could end up being Brandon Cumpton 2.0 in what his role for the team could be this year. He also pitched on Monday in Indy, so he'd be on an extra day of rest, but that's little to no issue. He seems to be the most realistic option for the Pirates to go on Sunday night. 

     One has got to think it'll be Chad Kuhl on Sunday. Personally, I do not think it is the most exciting option, but it's more exciting than Boscan or Nicasio. It hedges with the excitement the previous few years of Cumpton and Sadler making their first starts. Not huge excitement, but still intriguing nonetheless. So get ready Pittsburgh, Chad Kuhl is coming. 

Giants at Pirates series preview

     I'm getting really tired of saying it, but the Pirates had yet another rough series. They got swept in Chicago, with only 1 of the games being actually competitive. The Cubs just looked like a well-oiled machine, while the Pirates looked like a junker from the scrapyard. The Pirates fell to 33-36, a mark that not many could have imagined after they got to 32-26 just about two weeks ago. Their road doesn't get any easier either, as the Giants come into town. I guess the good news is they are at home and they play well against the Giants, for the most part. 

Monday: Jeff Locke (5-5 5.92 ERA) vs Madison Bumgarner (8-2 1.91 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This pitching matchup is a Giants fan dream, but a Pirates fan nightmare. A struggling Jeff Locke has given up 18 runs in less than 9 innings in his last 2 starts, putting his ERA all the way up at 5.92. He faces one of the best in the business, Madison Bumgarner, who actually faced Locke last year at PNC Park and even homered off of him. Bumgarner looked human that day, but Locke looked less than that. We can only hope Locke brings his best and Bumgarner falters. 

Tuesday: TBA vs Johnny Cueto (10-1 2.10 ERA) 7:05 ET

     With Nicasio on the restricted list, it looks like Wilfredo Boscan will get this start. It hasn't been announced, but it's been strongly hinted at. At this point, Boscan may be a breath of fresh air. However, he will see another one of the best, Johnny Cueto. Cueto has dominated the Pirates at every turn besides a few outliers, like the 2013 WC game where he was coming straight off the DL. This looks to be another pitching matchup where the Pirates bags won't be able to get back on track, but you never know. Maybe one of those few outlier games can come into play here. 

Wednesday: Francisco Liriano (4-7 5.03 ERA) vs Jeff Samardzija (8-4 3.13) 7:05 ET

     Okay, these pitchers the Pirates have faced lately is getting out of hand with how good they are, not just overall, but against the Pirates as well. Jeff Samardzija continues the chopping block. He had an average year last year, but is doing great this year and has always done great against the Pirates. For the Buccos, it's Liriano, who hasn't been bad his last two starts. Though, he hasn't been great either. It'll be important for him to get some of the big lefty bats the Giants have out, if they play obviously. Giants have some lefty bats that can hurt you. Liriano has to minimize that to have success. 

Thursday: Jon Niese (6-4 4.74 ERA) vs Albert Suarez (2-1 3.69 ERA) 12:35 ET

     If any of the pitching matchups are at lead sort of favorable in this series, it's this one. Suarez doesn't have too much experience under his belt, but he's been good in his little time. This is the best opportunity for the Bucco bats to break out possibly. Jon Niese goes for the Pirates. He's given up alarming gone run numbers for a "ground ball" pitcher. The Giants like to hit homers, so for Niese, he has to keep the ball down and keep it in the ballpark. That is how he can keep the Giants at bay (no pun intended). 

     Most would be happy with a series split in most 4-game series', but especially this one considering the pitching matchups. A series split would probably even give this team a huge boost that they so desperately need right now. A series loss or sweep would put this team in serious panic mode as well as a hole that would be very difficult to dig out of. This may even be a more important series for this team going forward as that Cubs series that just concluded. 

What does Austin Meadows' recent promotion mean moving forward?

     Austin Meadows was drafted 9th overall by the Pirates in the 2013 draft. He has quickly climbed the prospect charts and has ascended to the be one of the top prospects for the Pirates and in all of baseball. The 21-year old outfielder has quickly worked through the minors, mashing at every level. He suffered an orbital fracture that held him out for a little bit this year, but came back and was great for AA Altoona, historically so in fact as he was in the midst of the greatest hitting stretch in Altoona Curve history. This lead to him getting a promotion to AAA Indianapolis. He is an exciting player that could hit the big leagues as early as next year because of how polished he is already. But you might be thinking exactly this: But don't the Pirates already have their 3 OFs? Well, sit back because I am going to explain it all for you right now.

     McCutchen, Marte, and Polanco are all signed beyond this year, and Polanco and Marte for many years to come. As for McCutchen, his contract is coming up sooner than everyone thinks. So all in all, it looks like the first guy to go will be the first guy that came, naturally. While Marte and Polanco continue to reach their peak, it looks like the Pirates superstar center fielder is nearing the end of his. It is very unfortunate because Cutch is so good and does so much for this team on and off the field as a leader. He is the face of the franchise, but faces change with time. I hate to say it, but Meadows spells out the end of McCutchen's time in Pittsburgh, and everyone knows it.

     I am willing to bet that Meadows will get at least a year of at-bats in AAA, if not more. However, he is not a Glasnow or Bell type where he needs more than that because, as I said, he is already so polished and/or he doesn't need a position change. The only position change he will need is moving to a corner OF spot when Marte takes over CF when Cutch leaves. That isn't a huge problem as it is a common thing. I project Meadows in a year or so, which means that Cutch's doom is sooner rather than later. Again, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is the reality of it.

     Pirates would be dumb to trade Cutch this offseason of course. and they would be dumber to trade him midseason next year unless if they are severly out of it. I am thinking they might just let him walk or pick up his affordable 2018 option and then trade him and get something back. It might look bad to trade Cutch, but sometimes business is business. Declining his option is just as bad. However, at the same time, you can't let Austin Meadows rot away in AAA or on the bench in the MLB. As much as McCutchen has meant to the Pirates, his play is undoubtedly declining, and the future has to come eventually. Letting him go after 2017 in some way would be the best thing for the organization going forward, or trading him midseason 2017 if they become sellers. However, some even say trading him this season would be best. If the Pirates continue this slide, it's possible but still unlikely. Though, one could make the case that he is at peak value right now. Despite struggling right now, he's still one of the best, he's affordable, and isn't a free agent until after 2017, or 2018 with his very friendly club option. I still think it's unlikely, but not too far out there. 

      There is one thing could change all of this however, and that is the DH. If the DH comes to the NL, the Pirates will obviously need one. Though Cutch's defense isn't bad, it is declining as well as his speed. Making him a DH when Meadows comes up could be a possibility for sure. That would be nearly the only reason he plays out his contract here in Pittsburgh. Pirates might be waiting the NL DH saga and then making decisions. The team gets run differently as a whole with a DH as opposed to not having one. Many players could fill the DH spot for the team, but none would quite be able to fill it quite like one of the best hitters in the MLB.

     I really like Andrew McCutchen, but Meadows is coming fast. For Cutch, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. It is going to be a sad day when McCutchen is no longer a Pirate, but from the ashes of an end comes the sparkles of a new beginning. And the new beginning will be in the form of Austin Meadows, who will excite Pirates fans for many years.

Series preview: Pirates at Cubs

     Pirates had another disappointing series in New York, losing the last 2 after Taillon's gem powered them on Tuesday. Now, the team heads to Chicago to face the best team in the league by far. What's worse is that this is a Pirates team that just fell to .500, and this suddenly becomes as important of a June series you can have. This series could shift the Pirates momentum back to good or put them in an even deeper free fall than they already are in. 

Friday: Arrieta (10-1 1.86 ERA) vs Francisco Liriano (4-6 4.92 ERA) 2:20 ET

     It's the good, old afternoon Friday game in Chicago that everyone both loves and hates. However, there's nothing to hate about this game if you are a Cubs fan because Jake Arrieta hits the mound. He brings his 1.86 ERA into this game and has been absolutely masterful against the Pirates. On the other hand, Liriano has good career numbers against the Cubs, but got pounded on his last trip to Wrigley. Liriano needs to turn the page on that and turn the page on his struggles this season. 

Saturday: Jon Lester (8-3 1.89 ERA) vs Jon Niese (6-3 4.60)

     The Pirates continue to look down the chopping block at pitchers in this stretch as Lester is absolutely no slouch. Despite not being able to throw to first, he's been great all year, as numbers suggest as well. It took an amazing performance by Cole to beat him the last time Lester faced the Pirates. The key is for the Pirates to reach vs Lester, so they can steal off of him. Though, David Ross, Lester's personal catcher, is one of the best at preventing base runners from stealing off Lester..As for Niese, he was riding a good stretch until he hit a block last time out against the Cardinals. It'll be important for him to establish his pitches early and do what made him so good for a handful of starts in a row. 

Sunday: Liam Hendricks (4-6 3.05 ERA) vs Jameson Taillon (1-0 1.93 ERA) 8:08 ET

     Liam Hendricks is the "worst" of the Cubs starting pitchers. 3.05 for the worst starting pitcher on the club is quite something. Many teams would take that for their ace. That's how good that rotation has been. Hendricks has really improved over the years and has been a great asset to the Cubs, who didn't give up on him too soon. He will be opposed by Jameson Taillon, who sparkled on Tuesday, taking a no-hitter into the 8th in just his second start in the MLB. He ended up going 8, giving up just 2 hits. This Cubs lineup is a whole different horse though, and this will be a nationally televised game. We will see how Taillon does handling all of that.

     Pirates offense is going to have a tough time, but their pitching might get it worse. This Cubs team has very few holes, which makes them so tough to beat. A series win would be a great way to get this team on track. Most think that's not possible, but baseball is a crazy game where anything can happen. 

Pirates at Mets series preview

     The Pirates had another tough series against the Cardinals, getting swept and only one the games was competitive and that game still ended 9-3. That's how bad it was. However, the Pirates definitely welcomed an off day, which they haven't had for over a month. They head into New York to face another death row of pitching that they have. They won 2 of 3 last week over the Mets in Pittsburgh, so hopefully the success vs the Mets continues into this week. 

Monday: Jacob deGrom (3-2 2.80 ERA) vs TBD 7:10 ET

     Pirates beat Jacob deGrom a week ago, but the reality is that he is still one of the best there is. Pirates have been scuffling a bit offensively lately, and facing deGrom does not help. For the Pirates, they at least moved Juan Nicasio back it not totally out of the rotation after pitching 90 pitches last Tuesday and 42 in Friday's relief outing. It's understandable why he's not pitching Tuesday. The guess most people have is that Taillon would start, but he has not been down for 10 days yet. Therefore, someone would have to hit the DL for him to come back. However, he would be on almost regular rest after pitching last Wednesday. 

Wednesday: Syndergaard (6-2 2.00 ERA) vs TBD 7:10 ET

     Pirates got to Syndergaard early in the game they faced him last week, but didn't get to him often. Syndergaard looked more like Syndergaard for the most of the rest of that game, keeping the Mets in the game long enough for them to steal it away. The Pirates hope they can have similar success against him again on Wednesday. He will likely go up against Jeff Locke, who gave up 11 runs in 4 2/3 innings in Colorado in a sacrificial start. 

Thursday: Bartolo Colon (5-3 3.08 ERA) vs TBD 7:10 ET

     Everyone's favorite Bartolo Colon starts on Thursday for New York. Not only has he brought shocking hitting capabilities this year. He has also brought good pitching this year, looking 10 years younger out there on the mound. The Pirates bats are going to have their hands full again. For the Pirates, this was supposed to be Cole's day but he will at least not start this game, if not go on the DL. I expect Nicasio to start here in his place. It could be Glasnow on good rest, but I don't see that happening. If it somehow becomes Glasnow that day, that shows how much belief they have in Nicasio. Though, they could want to give Nicasio a long breather by putting him on the DL to get Taillon up for Tuesday. That could open the door for Glasnow, but we will see how this plays out. 

     Pirates need to find a way to get back on track against the Mets. This whole road trip is an important one for the Pirates as their schedule continues to not give them mercy. They have had success against the Mets, so winning 2 of 3 against them again would be very helpful. The pitching the Mets are bringing this series is unfavorable to the Pirates, but that's a constant when you face the Mets. Pirates need to find a way to win some more starting this week, or they will be deep in it.  

Gerrit Cole and Francisco Cervelli both expected to miss time

     Gerrit Cole and Francisco Cervelli both left last night's game with injuries. Both will be re-evaluated today. However, it is being reported by Ken Rosenthal, the best in the business, that both are expected to miss some time. While the time frame is unknown, he also states that neither will be season ending. 

     These two guys are obviously players the Pirates can't afford to lose. Cole, the obvious ace of the staff, would be a tough guy to lose for really any amount of time, and especially if it's significant. He is irreplaceable, even if Taillon and Glasnow come up. As for Cervelli, he is the glue that holds that pitching staff together. The pitchers are very comfortable with him and the energy he brings is something you can't replace. Stewart is one of the best backup catchers in the game, but he is still nowhere close to Cervelli. 

     This team is having enough troubles sticking around and keeping their head above water right now as it is. Losing two of their best players to injury for any amount of time would really be crushing. We can only hope these injuries are not anything significant, and that these guys are back and helping this team sooner rather than later. 

Cardinals at Pirates series preview

     Pirates had a much better series against the Mets before dropping the makeup game in Colorado. Now, the Pirates return home once again to face a team they've had success against, the Cardinals. The Pirates are 5-1 against the Red Birds this season. The Cardinals have brought the best out of the Pirates in recent years, and this season has been no different whatsoever. 

Friday: Gerrit Cole (5-4 2.85 ERA) vs Michael Wacha (2-6 5.16 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This pitching matchup looks great based on name value, but the numbers paint a different picture. Wacha has severely struggled as he is one of the many disappointing pitchers the Cardinals have had to endure through this year. Pirates have played a role in his struggles and have actually hit him well recently despite his game 4 start in PNC Park in the NLDS in 2013 still haunting Pirates fans everywhere. On the other side, it's Pirates ace Gerrit Cole, who pitched well enough on Sunday to keep the Pirates in the game. He looks to build on recent success. 

Saturday: Francisco Liriano (4-5 5.25 ERA) vs Carlos Martinez (6-5 3.76 ERA) 7:15 ET

     Liriano did not start Wednesday as that was Taillon's start. He got pushed back to Saturday as the Pirates look for him to get on track. Liriano will have quite a challenge against the Cardinals lineup that is full of quality hitters. The Pirates lineup will have its hands full with Carlos Martinez, who has had a good year and has historically been good against the Pirates.

Sunday: Jon Niese (6-2 3.93) vs Mike Leake (4-4 4.22 ERA) 5:05 ET

     5:05 is just a really weird start time for a Sunday game, but we are going to have to manage. As for the game, we see Jon Niese, who has been great lately vs Mike Leake, who has also been disappointing for them but looks to be improving as well. It'll be interesting to see if these two pitchers can continue to pitch better. Pirates normally don't hit Leake well, but they did pretty well last time, making him throw more than 40 pitches in the first and touching him up for a few runs in a very short outing for him. We will see if the Pirates offense can build on that. 

     Pirates really would like to win another series against the Cardinals to keep a leg up on them. That would be a nice thing to do. It would also help them regain some momentum that started to return in the Mets series but was lost. These are the last 3 games before the Pirates get a scheduled day off. It would be nice to end this long stretch with a series win to put this team in a good spot as they head into a day off then go into New York. 

Who will make the start on Saturday for the Pirates?

     Pirates vs Mets on Monday got postponed due to rain. They have a double header Tuesday with the first game coming at 4:05 and the second half an hour after the conclusion of game 1. This has lead the Pirates to start both Jon Niese and Juan Nicasio for Tuesday, leading to a rotation gap for Saturday. Niese was supposed to go Saturday, but now he won't be on regular rest to go that day. Combined that with the makeup game in Denver that causes the Pirates to use Locke then instead of over the weekend, the Pirates have a predicament on their hands. However, it may be one they needed. 

     The Pirates now have an empty rotation slot that they could use to call up one of their top prospects. They can start one of those guys Saturday with Niese on Sunday and Nicasio straight to the bullpen. The question isn't about whether it will happen, I don't think. The question might just be about who at this point. Well, let's look. 

     Taillon is the top choice, but rest time might be an issue. He starts on Wednesday, which wouldn't put him in line for Saturday unless if they scratch him for Wednesday and give him an extra bullpen session or something. It can be done, but I'm worried it might be out of rhythm for him, especially for a guy that would already be feeling the pressure of an MLB debut on his shoulders. 

     Chad Kuhl makes some more sense, as he started Sunday. He'd be only on one extra days rest, so there'd be no need for an extra bullpen session for him. Pirates could turn to Kuhl if they don't want to call up any of the top 2 guys, or if they think they only need a spot start at this point. 

     Glasnow is perfectly in line, as he pitched in Monday. This makes his next start Saturday, which would be in perfect rhythm for him. However, Glasnow is also the least ready of the three top AAA arms, so calling him up may be a little bit premature at this point. I don't expect to see Glasnow even though he'd be on regular rest. 

     I definitely think we see one of these three arms on Saturday. I don't think it's a matter of if at this point. We are likely going to be well safely past Super 2 by Saturday, if we aren't already. This is the opening the Pirates needed to get one of these guys up. I doubt they will miss out on this opportunity. 

Mets at Pirates series preview

     Pirates lost a third straight series over the weekend when they dropped 2 of 3 to the Angels. After getting blown out Friday, they eeked by on Saturday, but blew a 4-1 7th inning lead on Sunday. Now, they get to face one of the best teams in the NL with one of the best rotations, and the Pirates are seeing the part of that rotation nobody wants to see. All we can do is gulp and hope that things go okay. Another storyline is that Neil Walker returns to Pittsburgh. If he doesn't get a standing ovation, we are doing it wrong. 

Monday: Jon Niese (5-2 4.36 ERA) vs Steven Matz (7-1 2.60 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Steven Matz has quickly become one of the best pitchers in the NL and rightfully so. He's done everything he can do to earn it. He's returned from injury and has been better than he was before. On the other side is another lefty, former Met Jon Niese, who had no place in the Mets rotation ironically because of Matz. Niese will get a chance to show up his former club while also facing Neil Walker in the process. 

Tuesday: Juan Nicasio (4-4 4.75 ERA) vs Jacob deGrom (3-1 2.62 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Juan Nicasio is approaching the end of his rope as a Pirates starter. He will likely get 2 starts this week and then be out and to the bullpen. Hopefully he uses that as fuel for the fire and pitches well, but it's no easy task to beat the deGrominater (I'll leave now). But in any case, the Pirates bats are going to need to hit the few mistakes deGrom makes. He has stellar numbers against the Pirates, and most anybody for that matter. 

Wednesday: Francisco Liriano (4-5 5.25 ERA) vs Noah Syndergaard (6-2 1.91) 7:05 ET

     With each passing pitching matchup, this seems to only get tougher for the Pirates. Noah Syndergaard is one of the best, not just in the NL, but the whole MLB. The dude is nasty on the hill and can even hit a bit too. On the Pirates side, it'll be a struggling Francisco Liriano. Much to the dismay of fans, it's not Taillon. Throwing Taillon in his debut vs Syndergaard is like throwing gas on fire. It just won't end well. Liriano needs to go toe to toe with Syndergaard, which is hard for anyone, let alone a pitcher that has had a bad year. We can hope that Liriano has it on Wednesday. That's basically it. 

     3 terrible pitching matchups for the Pirates here, though facing Harvey and Colon wouldn't exactly be easy either. Winning 2 of 3 would be a great step back in the right direction for this team, especially against these pitchers. This will be a series where we see if this offense can hit elite guys and if Liriano and Nicasio can get on track. Big series for the Pirates even though it's early June..

Pirates bullpen problem isn't about bodies; it's about performance

     A lot of the Pirates offseason plan seemed to center around the bullpen. They were looking to create a shutdown bullpen full of guys who can get the opposition out consistently, leading to many wins. However, it hasn't quite panned out as was hoped so far. The Pirates bullpen has been average at best, and even saying that could be seen as a stretch. The bullpen has looked very shaky, blowing or nearly blowing leads that weren't even conceivable for a Pirates bullpen just a season ago. The Pirates have a ton of pitchers in the pen that can pitch very well, so the problem is not about the depth or the readily available pitchers the team has. Nope, the problem is that the guys have not performed the way people thought and expected. 

     The Pirates' bullpen has seen many changes due to injury, ineffectiveness, or both. Lobstein, Luebke, Scahill, Boscan, Caminero, Vogelsong, and others have all shuffled around the bullpen. Some ineffective; some not. Many of these pitchers are very capable of pitching well and even have in the past. Though, the problem is they haven't to this point. Plain and simple. There's plenty of pitchers here the Pirates can turn too. Not many they would like to turn to right now.

     The other problem has been that some of the bullpen main stays haven't pitched great or as they were expected to, at least. Hughes has struggled to find his footing since returning from injury, and Watson has really been inconsistent. Watson can look lights out at times, but when he is struggling, it's very, very bad. It is not the version of Tony Watson we are used to seeing. 

     There have been 2 very bright spots in the bullpen. Those being Neftali Feliz and Mark Melancon. However, it is hard to have a good bullpen with 2 great guys and 5 guys who can either get shelled or dominate, but it is unknown which version you will see that day. That is a tough thing to work around, and something the Pirates haven't had to deal with in years. 

     It's hard to fix a problem when the problem is based on guys underperforming as opposed to just not having quality guys. Pirates have many quality guys in the bullpen that they don't want to give up on because they belong. It becomes really hard to replace guys that belong but are just underperforming. They are going to have to figure out how to get these guys right again, so that the bullpen can become a dominating force once again. 

Liriano to DL? Taillon to take his place?

     Liriano struggled once again on Friday night, not even making it through 4 innings while allowing 7 runs. Liriano's season ERA has now risen well above 5. Taillon also started Friday. Despite an early struggle, he found his feet and pitched really well towards the end of his start. 

     Now, many people have said and are even advocating for a Liriano "DL" trip. Pirates, and many other teams actually, do this to try to get their pitchers right that they just can't send to AAA. Liriano could be up for this sort of thing just so he can relax and get away from the sport for a little bit, which in some cases actually works wonders. In other cases, it doesn't. 

     The main backing behind this thought is that Taillon and Liriano are scheduled to pitch the same day next, so the transition would be much easier for Taillon than having to skip a AAA start just to fit in the Pirates' rotation down the road. He can just stay in rhythm and routine. Then, once Liriano comes back, he just takes Nicasio's rotation spot. 

     The next scheduled day for them both to pitch is June 8th. The magical day being aimed for in Super 2 is June 10th. However, Pirates can avoid this by sending him down over the All-Star break, like they did with Cole in 2013. It really wouldn't present an issue for Taillon to start June 8th if it came down to it. 

     The likelihood of this actually happening, I believe, are very slim to almost none. I don't think the Pirates would make Francisco Liriano take some starts off just to try to get right again. They must likely would want him to figure it out on the fly during the season. He's truly earned the right to do so. It might send a bad message to everyone if the Pirates gave Liriano no chance to figure it out on the field while using a rookie in his place. If Liriano is actually hurt, that's one thing. But he's not (by his words), so I don't think Taillon will start June 8th. Sorry, fans. Don't kill the messenger. 

Angels at Pirates preview

     Pirates had a brutal series in Miami. After a 10-0 win on Monday, they got beat by Fernandez, and couldn't overcome being no hit for a lot of the game the other 2 nights. They also suffered injuries to Polanco, McCutchen, Cervelli, Freese, and Mercer in the series, but it seems that most of them are not too serious, at least hopefully. Pirates need to forget about the brutal time they spent in South Beach and look towards returning home to face Mike Trout and the struggling Angels. 

Friday: Francisco Liriano (4-4 4.63 ERA) vs Jered Weaver (4-4 5.40 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This is a pitching matchup of two former aces that have lost their way a little bit. For Liriano, the problem has been command. He hasn't been able to locate his offspeed stuff. Therefore, he's using his fastball more to get in counts and it has been getting hit. As for Weaver, it's been a massive velocity drop. At this point, he's been barely able to get major leaguers out at this point. 

Saturday: Jeff Locke (4-3 4.33 ERA) vs Nick Tropeano (3-2 3.25 ERA) 4:05 ET

     Locke is coming off the best start of his major league career and possibly his whole pro career on Monday, pitching a complete game shutout while facing just one over the minimum. However, that day he didn't face one of the best hitters in the game because Stanton was out. Well, on Saturday, he will see a few great hitters. These are highlighted by Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. Pujols' numbers against the Pirates are other worldly, and Mike Trout is going to hit anyone and everyone well. Jeff Locke will have a challenge. 

Sunday: Gerrit Cole (5-4 2.72 ERA) vs Jhoulys Chacin (2-3 4.42 ERA) 1:35 ET

     Gerrit Cole is coming off a good start against the Marlins but was outdueled by Jose Fernandez, who is one of the best. If Cole pitches like he did in Miami, he should have little troubles winning the matchup with the fringe starter Jhoulys Chacin, who the Angels acquired a few weeks back from Atlanta to help a depleted, injured rotation. The Pirates offense can't do Chacin favors like they seemed to do to a lot of the Marlins' pitchers. They need to get back to their approach from earlier in the year which bred success. 

     Pirates desperately needed to return home after a very tough road trip. If they can feed off of home cooking, then that sour trip becomes a thing of the past for sure. Winning this series against the Angels with a couple of favorable pitching matchups would be a great way to start!