Pirates at Cubs series preview

     The Pirates had a great weekend, sweeping the Brewers in Milwaukee of all places. This has propelled them ahead of the Marlins and behind the Cardinals by just 0.5 a game in the NL Wildcard standings. It's safe to say that this weekend couldn't have been any better for the Pirates. But now they face a great Cubs team in Wrigley Field. The Cubs have been red hot in the second half and are sure bets to take the NL Central crown. This won't be easy for the Pirates. 

Monday: Steven Brault (0-1 3.60 ERA) vs Jake Arrieta (16-5 2.62 ERA) 8:05 ET

     This is a pitching matchup that looks like a mismatch on the surface. A rookie in just his third start vs one of the best pitchers in the entire MLB. Steven Brault gets the call for Gerrit Cole, who is having his elbow examined, Monday. He has been good but not great in his first 2 MLB starts. Nothing spectacular but good enough to keep the team in it. For the Cubs, Jake Arrieta gets the nod. He had a bad start last time he faced the Pirates just before the break. Pirates want to replicate that for sure. Steven Brault beating Jake Arrieta would be a shocker in so many ways, but anything can happen in baseball. 

Tuesday: Chad Kuhl (3-1 3.50 ERA) vs Kyle Hendricks (12-7 2.19 ERA) 8:05 ET

     Chad Kuhl consistently turns in good outings for the Pirates. It's very impressive stuff he's shown, especially as a rookie. He's going to need his best stuff to compete with a potent Cubs lineup. Kyle Hendricks goes for the Cubs. Beginning of the year, and throughout much of his early career, he was a fringe starter at best. However, this year he has turned in a quiet Cy Young caliber season. He has a 2.19 ERA, which is very elite and no signs of stopping. The Pirates offense is going to have major troubles you would think because everyone else does. Who knows, maybe the Pirates will get to him. It's an uphill climb, but not all climbs are impossible. 

Wednesday: Ryan Vogelsong (3-3 3.02 ERA) vs Mike Montgomery (4-5 2.60 ERA) 8:05 ET

     Ryan Vogelsong's last few starts haven't been as flashy as his first few, but he's been effective nonetheless. He's still exceeding all expectations placed upon him. He's faced a lot of challenges in his career and this start is just another one for him. Maybe he will pass this one as well. Mike Montgomery gets the ball for the Cubs. He has been pushed into the rotation because of injuries after being acquired as a reliever in July from Seattle. He's been an effective pitcher all year and he's a lefty to boot. The Pirates are very capable of getting runs off of him. This is the easiest test they'll get this season, and even then it's not an easy task. 

     This is a huge series for the Pirates. If they can prove they can win in Chicago, that'll go a long way in their push for the playoffs. The pitching matchups aren't favorable by any stretch, but they aren't the worst either. I think the Pirates have a shot if they play like they did in Milwaukee. However, the Pirates haven't shown consistency, so let's see which version of team we are going to get this week. 

Does Gerrit Cole need Chris Stewart?

     Gerrit Cole has not fared well recently, pitching to an ERA above 5 since the All-Star break. People everywhere have been trying to pinpoint the exact problem with Gerrit Cole. While it might be just a bad stretch for him, which happens to everyone. However, it is still worth exploring one potential reason for his struggles. This reason being the lack of Chris Stewart. 

     Gerrit Cole had pitched much of the 2015 season with Chris Stewart behind the plate. It almost became a personal battery. Cole enjoyed his best season in 2015 and was one of the top starters in the National League. This season, the Pirates have gone away from a Cole-Stewart battery. Though, it hasn't helped that Stewart has been hurt for awhile. 

     Pirates trying to pair up a battery of Cole and Cervelli hasn't been successful overall. Cole's numbers have dropped off since the change. Whether this is a coincidence or actually a trend remains to be seen. Most of Cole's numbers in his career have been better with Stewart back there than any other catcher. 

     Now, I'm not a huge fan of personal catchers, but I am a fan of Gerrit Cole pitching well. If the reason behind that is the comfortability of a Cole-Stewart battery, then the Pirates need to try it once Stewart gets back. The Pirates need to pull out all the stops to get their ace right, so they can make a push for the playoffs once again. The rotation has been better lately after the overhaul, but they go nowhere without Gerrit Cole, it's that plain and simple. Getting Cole corrected is important, and Stewart might just be a catalyst for that.

Pirates at Brewers series preview

     The Pirates had a very disappointing homestand. They went 1-5 following a 5-1 west coast trip. So, they gave back all the games they won in LA and San Francisco. They really need to get it going if they want to make the playoffs. It starts in a place where they haven't done well in, Milwaukee. The last time they went to Milwaukee, they got swept. In fact, they have gotten swept the last three times they have visited the Brewers. That really needs to stop for the Pirates to have a chance. 

Thursday: Wily Peralta (5-9 6.00 ERA) vs Chad Kuhl (3-1 3.62 ERA) 8:10 ET

     Wily Peralta hasn't had many silver linings to the season he has had. It's been not very good. This would be a good chance for the Pirates to get off the schnide in Milwaukee. For the Pirates, Chad Kuhl gets the nod. Kuhl has had success in his short time as a major leaguer so far, and the Pirates need that to continue. This is a pitching matchup that could certainly favor the Pirates.

Friday: Matt Garza (4-5 5.27 ERA) vs Ryan Vogelsong (2-3 2.98 ERA) 8:10 ET

     Another Brewers starter that has really struggled is Matt Garza. There's no way to sugarcoat the fact that he's been bad. The Pirates bats can't afford to make Garza look like he did in his prime years. For the Pirates, Ryan Vogelsong gets the start. Vogelsong has been consistent so far since joining the rotation. The Pirates need more of that on Friday. 

Saturday: Jimmy Nelson (7-13 4.26 ERA) vs Jameson Taillon (3-3 2.92 ERA) 7:10 ET

     Jimmy Nelson seems to be not too fond of the no-decision. He is a whopping 7-13 already. While he's not been terrible, he's been involved in many games. The Pirates bats could light him up or he could look great. We will see which version we get. The Pirates start steady Jameson Taillon. This rookie has been a force in the Pirates rotation. Every time he starts, you just feel like the Pirates are going to win. Hopefully that is the case on Saturday. 

Sunday: Chase Anderson (7-10 4.99 ERA) vs Ivan Nova (10-6 4.55 ERA) 2:10 ET

     The Pirates are very used to Anderson by now. They have faced him plenty this year and have fared well. The Pirates hope that success continues. For the Pirates, Ivan Nova takes the hill. Nova is coming off one of, if not, the best start of his career on Tuesday against Houston. He has been overall good for the Pirates. Whether he can take the act to Milwaukee remains to be seen, but there's no reason to think he won't. 

     Pirates need to win 3 of 4. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. These are four pretty favorable pitching matchups that the Pirates can win. Of course, there is the Miller Park factor that may poke it's ugly head in. Pirates need to get 3 of 4 in this series to remain competitive in the wildcard race. Let's see if they can show up in Miller Park for the first time in over a year. 

Astros at Pirates series preview

     The Pirates had a dreadful series against the Marlins, getting swept in three close games. It went from what looked like there was going to be a wildcard tie with the Cardinals on Friday to being three back of the Cardinals and suddenly 1.5 back of the Marlins for that second spot. It's a series that the Pirates could ill-afford, but it happened. But they have to move on and face an old familiar face in the Astros. While these are two different teams than when they were division foes, they get a chance to check in on each other once again. 

Monday: Jameson Taillon (3-2 3.00 ERA) vs Doug Fister (11-8 3.76 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Jameson Taillon suddenly finds himself needing to be a stopper. He's been great in his young career but his role on Monday will be what shapes him. Will he be able to provide the Pirates with a great outing when they need a win? We will see. This Astros lineup is a tough one to navigate with Altuve and now the sudden emergence of Alex Bregman and the recent call up of Gurriel. Taillon will need to be at his best. For the Astros, bounce back pitcher Doug Fister gets the nod. Foster had a bad year in 2015 in Washington in a season where he looked to be staking his case for a huge contract. This year has been a nice rebound for him. While not being the Fister of old, he's been rather effective. The Pirates bats will have trouble here. 

Tuesday: Ivan Nova (9-6 4.83 ERA) vs Joe Musgrove (1-1 4.18 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Ivan Nova will get a crack at a good lineup, and that may or may not be good. While Nova has looked good numbers-wise overall, he has been lucky. Teams have been hitting it hard off him and his ground ball rate is laughable since joining the club. Against this Astros lineup, he can't be leaving juicy pitches up in the zone or they will get crushed. Astros send Joe Musgrove to the hill. He doesn't have a lot of MLB experience under his belt yet, but he's been good in his little time. Don't let the numbers fool you. This guy has all the abilities to be an MLB starter, but the Pirates hope they don't find out why. 

Wednesday: Gerrit Cole (7-8 3.30 ERA) vs Colin McHugh(7-10 4.99 ERA) 12:35 ET

     While Cole has had good numbers this year, and is still an ace, he has struggled to find any sort of consistency. I say it every time he takes the mound: he has to start finding that gear he did last year if the Pirates are going to go anywhere. Hopefully this is the start that gets him going. Another underwhelming pitcher this year is on the other end, Colin McHugh. McHugh hasn't enjoyed success this year. His ERA is close to 5 and hasn't shown signs yet that'll change. He was supposed to have a breakout season, but it just hang materialized the way anyone had hoped. He will figure it out eventually. The Pirates just hope he waits at least one more start until he figures it out. 

     This is a big series for the Pirates. They need to get back on the horse and wash out the taste of the series against the Marlins. It's hard to call this series a "must-win", but it's about as close as you can get to that. Winning two of three would get this team to a spot where they can feel comfortable in the wildcard race, especially if the teams above them scuffle. Losing two of three or worse would make it tough. 

Marlins at Pirates series preview

     The Pirates have to be feeling great right now. They went 5-1 on a tough west coast trip in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It's not an easy task, but the Pirates did it and looked good while doing it. Now, they face a crucial series against the Marlins who have been struggling. Of course, the Marlins and Pirates are two of the teams battling for the wildcard and up until this week, the Marlins had been ahead of the Pirates in the standings. Right now, the Pirates are ahead of the Marlins by 1.5 games. Despite that, this series is one of the more vital ones the Pirates will have the rest of the year. That cannot be underscored. 

Friday: Gerrit Cole (7-8 3.25 ERA) vs Tom Koehler (9-8 3.86 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This is a really "Cole" pitching matchup. In fact, it's even "Koehler" than that. Okay, just needed to get that out of my system. Anyway, Cole really needs to start stepping up more to get this team to the next level. He's been good but inconsistent all year. He has to kick it into the gear he found next year. This game against the Marlins is a good time to start. For the Marlins, Tom Koehler has been looking much better lately. He's been a big reason this Marlins pitching rotation has been able to stay afloat despite many problems. The Pirates bats will need to bring their best to get to him. 

Saturday: Chad Kuhl (3-0 3.73 ERA) vs David Phelps (6-6 2.48 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Wow, this weekend has a really "Kuhl" feel to it. Okay, now I'm done. Now, the Pirates have not lost when Chad Kuhl has started, and a lot of that can be contributed to how well Chad Kuhl has been pitching. The Pirates are hoping that the streak for him continues. For the Marlins, it's David Phelps. Phelps had been working out of the bullpen but was pushed to rotation because of inconsistencies and injuries. He was great out of the bullpen. While Phelps has never been great as as a starter, he is capable of being steady. I think it's possible that the Pirates can get to him, but it won't be an easy task. 

Sunday: Ryan Vogelsong (2-2 3.20 ERA) vs Jose Urena (1-4 6.80 ERA) 1:35 ET

     Ryan Vogelsong's last start in San Francisco didn't go great, but it wasn't bad either. Vogelsong has still been a pleasant surprise since returning from injury just a couple of weeks ago. He gets yet another start in a big situation, which he's done many times in his career. I have no doubts he will keep his cool and do what he can to give the Pirates a chance to win. For the Marlins, it's Jose Urena. Urena has not been good and there's no way around it. Since arriving in the majors, he's not been good outside of a couple flashes. He consistently has been roughed up. Hopefully, the Pirates are just another team that does that to him. Pirates can't afford to lay eggs against pitchers like this. 

     As I said before, this is a crucial series for both team as it relates to the wildcard race. Pirates have a chance to build up an even bigger lead on the Marlins while the Marlins can establish themselves above the Pirates again. In September if the race between the two is close, these games will be looked back on. Pirates normally play better at home and are playing well right now. Baseball is a funny game, but all momentum seems to be going the Pirates way right now. 

Can Vogelsong remain in the rotation the rest of the year?

     The Pirates have had much better and more consistent starting pitching lately. The inclusion of Chad Kuhl and Ryan Vogelsong and the breakout of Jameson Taillon has been big in that happening. This combined with getting rid of Niese and Liriano as well as putting Locke in the bullpen. One guy that wasn't expected to do as well as he's been is Ryan Vogelsong. His start in Monday was only okay, but the previous two starts before that were outstanding. It begs the question; can Vogelsong stick in the rotation the rest of the year? 

     Firstly, I get the feeling that Vogelsong will be in the rotation for the rest of the month at least. He's earned it with his first few starts. The other factors play into that too. The only option that could replace him immediately is Brault. Glasnow suffered a setback in rehab, Hutchison will not be up until September, and then there's Locke. There's no reason to think that Vogelsong won't stay in the rotation as long as he pitches effectively. 

     The other thing is that the Pirates have alluded to the possibility of a 6-man rotation. They did that last year late in the season as well. It's not known what the rotation would look like in that scenario, but again, if Vogelsong pitches well he will be in there. One thing is for sure, the ball is in Vogelsong's court right now. 

     The rotation currently has only 3 guys that'll definitely be in there. That being Cole, Taillon, and Nova (and even the scenario with Nova could change if he pitches poorly going into September). The rest is up for grabs, and Vogelsong is in the thick of that race and even has the advantage currently. It is still a fluid situation with him in the rotation right now. However, if Vogelsong pitches like a quality member of the rotation, he will certainly have a spot. He is very much capable of being in the rotation through the stretch. It's all in front of him, but he still needs to earn it. 

Pirates at Giants series preview

     Pirates got a massive series win in Los Angeles over the Dodgers and find themselves right in the thick of things in the National League Wildcard picture. They now face the another NL West team, the Giants. They lost 3 of 4 to the Giants in PNC Park in June but look to rebound from that. 

Monday: Matt Moore (7-8 3.99 ERA) vs Ryan Vogelsong (1-2 2.76 ERA) 10:15 ET

    Pirates were unable to get Matt Moore at the trade deadline. He ended up getting traded to the Giants. Now, he will face the Pirates. The Pirates will get a close-up look at the guy they didn't get. I have to say it would be delightful if the Pirates lit him up. For the Pirates, it's Vogelsong. He won 2 World Series with the Giants in 2012 and 2014 and now will make his return to pitching in AT&T Park. He has been great in the two starts since he's been placed in the rotation. He's given the rotation a boost and will hope to continue that tonight as the adrenaline for him will be pumping more than ever you would think. 

Tuesday: Jeff Samardzija (10-8 4.23 ERA) vs Jameson Taillon (3-2 2.85 ERA) 10:15 ET

     Jeff Samardzija has had a pretty average year after signing a huge deal with the Giants over the winter. He's been given a good amount of run support, leading to a 10-8 record. Pirates hit him rather well last time they faced him and have done so recently. Pirates offense doesn't want that trend to end now. Pirates send Jameson Taillon to the hill. Taillon, 24, has been great. He has had great command and control of all his pitches and has induced a lot of soft contact. That's a good formula for success in any level of baseball. Giants lineup will be tough, but Taillon has faced good lineups before. 

Wednesday: Matt Cain (4-7 5.47 ERA) vs Ivan Nova (9-6 4.68 ERA) 3:45 ET

     Matt Cain has been way less than impressive this year for the Giants. He's had a bad year, and there's been no way to sugarcoat it. He has good starts occasionally, but those are few and far between these days. Pirates need to take advantage of him struggling. Pirates have Ivan Nova going. He has been good so far by the numbers. However, he has been hit hard, especially in his last start against the Dodgers. The Giants are one lineup you don't want to mess around with like that. They will crush you that way. 

     Taking 2 of 3 in this series would be huge to the team. They have to continue to win series' to make a playoff push in these final weeks. Every game and every series is vital at this point for the Pirates. Losing this series wouldn't be disastrous, but it certainly wouldn't be ideal. 

Pirates at Dodgers series preview

     Pirates were able to claw out a series win over the Padres to give them a 4-2 homestand. The pitching has been turning a corner while the offense is still inconsistent but showed a bit better. Now, they get back to playing teams that are playoff caliber. This will be an important stretch for the Pirates. If they can win against these teams, they have a shot. It starts in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Friday: Ross Stripling (3-3 3.79 ERA) vs Ivan Nova (8-6 4.83 ERA) 10:10 ET

     This was supposed to be the Dodgers debut for lefty Rich Hill. However, he is still isn't ready to pitch in a game with a blister issue. So, instead it's Ross Stripling. Stripling hasn't been bad in his time in the MLB so far. This is not a foe to be taken lightly. For the Pirates, it's Ivan Nova. Nova pitched quite well in his Pirates' debut on Saturday. He looks to build on that success on Friday. If he does, the Pirates will certainly have a chance. 

Saturday: TBD vs Gerrit Cole (7-7 2.94 ERA) 

     The Dodgers probables for the last 2 games are not confirmed yet, but this start could go to Brandon McCarthy or Julio Urias. For the Pirates, Gerrit Cole gets the nod. He didn't look good against the Reds, a team he can't seem to beat. There's no reason to think he won't be better in this start though. 

Sunday: TBD vs Chad Kuhl (2-0 3.91 ERA)

     Another TBD for the Dodgers. It could be Brett Anderson or Julio Urias or really anyone. For the Pirates, it'll be Chad Kuhl. Despite being just 2-0, the Pirates have won when he's started. He famously beat Clayton Kershaw in his MLB debut on Sunday Night Baseball in PNC Park in late June. Chad Kuhl has looked rather good so far in his short MLB career. If he keeps this up, he will stick in the rotation for sure. 

     This is a big series for the Pirates. They would love to keep momentum going on the road out west. The Dodgers have a good team, so this series seems to be a measuring stick for the Pirates. 

Padres at Pirates series preview

     Pirates picked themselves up, to an extent, by winning a series over the Cincinnati Reds. While not a big deal normally, it came after a terribly devastating 1-5 road trip against two of the worst teams in baseball. They now continue to play bad teams as they face the lowly Padres. These two met earlier in the year, and San Diego took two of three. However, the Padres look very different now as they have unloaded most of their roster. This is a Padres roster that is ravaged, and quite frankly, not very good. Pirates look to take advantage of this and win more games to climb into a playoff spot. 

Tuesday: Chad Kuhl (1-0 4.19 ERA) vs Luis Perdomo (5-5 6.67 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This will be a battle of two youngsters. For the Pirates, it's Chad Kuhl. Kuhl makes his return to the rotation and will have a shot to claim a rotation spot. He looked very good outside of one start in his early MLB career. His pitch selection is limited so he will need to have his pitches all working to be effective. It's been pretty good so far. Let's see if he can continue. For the Padres, it's Luis Perdomo. This is a guy that has the potential to be good but hasn't been. He hasn't been very good at all and nothing has really been shown otherwise. This might be a great chance for the Pirates' bats to get it going. 

Wednesday: Ryan Vogelsong (1-1 3.25 ERA) vs Edwin Jackson (2-2 5.00 ERA) 7:05 ET

     Who would have thought that in 2016 we'd get a Vogelsong vs Jackson pitching matchup? Well, here we have it. Vogelsong gave the Pirates a fantastic outing, making his comeback even more epic. He has the chance to solidify a rotation spot with a few good starts. His leash was extended last start, but he needs to keep it going and hopefully give this team a boost. Now, for the Padres, Edwin Jackson. I seriously am amazed that the likes of Edwin Jackson is still in an MLB rotation. However, people are saying the same about Vogelsong probably. Anyway, this seems like another pitcher the Pirates should light up. But, they play the games for a reason, so you never know. 

Thursday: Jameson Taillon (2-2 3.29 ERA) vs Christian Friedrich (4-7 4.76 ERA) 12:35 ET

     Taillon has been brilliant in the MLB so far. He looks to be a mainstay in the Pirates rotation. The consistent control and the constant soft contact is a sticking point for him. What a return he has made after missing nearly two seasons to put together the year he's had. For the Padres, it's lefty Christian Friedrich. Friedrich, 29, has not enjoyed a good MLB career to date. He has shown flashes but hasn't put it together. There's nothing that stands out about him really. 

     The Pirates have a real shot with the pitching matchups in this series. This should be a winnable series for them. The Padres are a mess right now, and the Pirates' job is to take advantage of them. These are the series you have to win to make the playoffs. 

Reds at Pirates series preview

     Pirates ended a disastrous road trip by losing two of three to the Atlanta Braves. They have fallen to .500 at 53-53. While still being in the hunt for the playoffs, they really need to get it going if they want to make the playoffs. It all has to start as they return back home to face the Cincinatti Reds. 

Friday: Jameson Taillon (2-2 3.52 ERA) vs Anthony DeSclafani (6-0 2.93 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This is a pitching matchup of two youngsters that that have been bright so far in the majors. For the Pirates, it's Jameson Taillon. He's had impeccable control that has lead to him being very successful so far in the MLB. If nothing else, you can expect a low amount of walks that prevents big innings for the most part. For the Reds, it's Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani has been dominant against the Pirates, but he's been dominant against mostly everyone. The Pirates bats have themselves a very difficult task against one of the brighter young arms in baseball. 

Saturday: Ivan Nova (7-6 4.90 ERA) vs Homer Bailey (1-0 3.18 ERA) 7:05 ET

     This will be the Pirates debut for righty Ivan Nova. Nova, 29, was acquired for 2 PTBNL on Monday. He has spent this season in both the Yankees rotation and the bullpen. He figures to stick as a starting pitcher in Pittsburgh for a pitching staff in desperate need of stability. Can Nova provide that? Time will tell. For the Reds, they got a rotation stabilizer back in Homer Bailey. He returned last Sunday after missing over a year after Tommy John surgery. He pitched effectively on Sunday, and the Reds hope he helps their rotation, also in need of stability. Bailey has always pitched well against the Pirates, but the Pirates bats hope he is still trying to find his feet after the injury. 

Sunday: Gerrit Cole (7-6 2.73 ERA) vs Dan Straily (6-6 3.80 ERA) 1:35 ET

     Gerrit Cole has been great his last few starts. Though only going 5 innings in Atlanta, he was still able to pitch effectively. The Pirates need that to continue if they want to get momentum going. He's going to have to be their ace, their stopper, and their horse the rest of the way. For the Reds, Dan Straily has resurrected his career. Acquired for nearly nothing, Straily has enjoyed a good year where he has become an efficient and effective middle of the rotation starter. He's seen the Pirates a couple times this year and has looked pretty good. There are times when it all blows up on Straily. The Pirates hope they can make that happen to him on Sunday. 

     This is an important series for the Pirates. Another series loss would put this team in a bad spot. They can't afford to lay another egg here. Winning 2 of 3 is essential while a sweep would be a bonus. The pitching matchups are pretty good, and the bullpen matchup favors the Pirates. Reds have been hot lately, but I think the Pirates can win this series. 

Pirates might as well let the young guys take the reigns

     We all know about what went down at the trade deadline for the Pirates. There is no need to recap once again. All in all, the Pirates dumped two pitchers and got three. One will be in AAA to start for contract reasons (Hutchison) while Nova will fill in the rotation and Bastardo to the bullpen. The moves have a overlying effect obviously, but they also have an underlying one. That underlying effect is that the Pirates should just give the reigns to the young guys on the team. 

     Firstly, let's look at the rotation. Cole, Taillon, and Nova are spots 1-3. Then, Hutchison will be in there in September probably. Other than that, the Pirates are deciding to use Locke and Vogelsong. I personally think they'd be better off using the young guys and seeing what they have. Glasnow (when he gets healthy), Kuhl, Brault, and Williams are all options the Pirates should consider just to see what they can do for the rest of the year. It's better for now and the future to do that than to toy around with Locke and Vogelsong which you know what you have with them. Honestly, the young guys are better than those two as well. It makes a lot of sense now to give them a long look since they didn't majorly upgrade the rotation at the deadline. 

     As for the position players, it makes sense to see what you have with Bell and play Frazier against righties. Firstly for Bell, his defense may be lackluster but the Pirates and other teams have proven you can overcome less than stellar defense. Also, Bell's offense is undeniably good and would likely outweigh his defense anyways. Jaso has not provided any spark lately and the Pirates need a spark right now. 

     Now, transitioning to a guy that's been a spark, Adam Frazier. He has been very good when he's been up in the MLB and has certainly deserved more playing time because of it. Though he hits lefties well, Harrison does too. Frazier vs lefties and righties split isn't even that noticeable anyways. It would make sense for a platoon situation at second base. I like Josh Harrison a lot, and that's why this move would be great, honestly. This would be the type of move that would put Harrison in a better position to succeed. Also, Harrison and Frazier could both provide a good spark and a matchup problem for a pitcher late in games off the bench on days they aren't starting, if used right. Both would also represent very good defensive replacements if needed as well. This would certainly be a move that would benefit both players and the team as a whole. 

     The Pirates are in position where they are still in playoff contention and need a boost. What they did at the trade deadline didn't provide a boost. The young guys could provide that boost. While I don't like the idea of relying on a bunch of young guys and rookies, given what they did, or didn't do, at the deadline, they might as well go with the young guys and see if they can provide something. Sometimes a youth movement can do more to a team than a move for a veteran, and I hope that is the direction the team decides to go now that all the dust has settled. 

Pirates at Braves series preview

     Needless to say that the Pirates fan base has been turned on its side over the last four days. After getting swept in Milwaukee, the Pirates made some trades that many fans were very confused about. There is a sense of angst and frustration surrounding the Pirates as a whole right now. However, there is still baseball to be played and a chance for the Pirates to win enough games to make the postseason, whether that's realistic or not. It starts in Turner Field against the Braves in what is most definitely there last trip there before they open up a new stadium in 2017. Pirates hope to rebuild confidence against a team that everyone knows is having a rough go of it. 

Tuesday: Mike Foltynewicz (4-4 4.30 ERA) vs Gerrit Cole (6-6 2.78 ERA) 7:10 ET

     Pirates offense looked bad against the Brewers against some pitchers that weren't very good. They are hoping that changes against the Braves. Foltynewicz isn't exactly a soft landing, but there certainly isn't much to suggest he can be lights out. For the Pirates, it's ace Gerrit Cole. Last time Cole took the hill, he pitched a complete game, allowing just one run and didn't even pitch 100 pitches. Not to expect he will do that again, but it looks like Cole is starting to look like the ace that we expect of him. If he pitches like that, the Pirates will have a good chance. 

Wednesday: TBD vs Jeff Locke (8-6 5.43 ERA) 7:10 ET

     Braves have not yet put up a starter for this game yet. But for the Pirates, it's good old Jeff Locke. After a brief bullpen stay, Locke returns to the Pirates rotation. Pirates hope that he can give them some stability in the rotation. He hopes to start that against his former club. 

Thursday: Tyrell Jenkins (1-2 4.91 ERA) vs Ryan Vogelsong (1-1 3.74 ERA) 7:10 ET

     The Braves are continuing their use of young guys in the rotation to see what they have. It'll be Tyrell Jenkins on Thursday. The 24-year old has been less than spectacular so far as the Pirates bats wish that to continue. For the Pirates, they are going with veteran Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong, 39, has not been seen on the mound for the Pirates since a horrific injury to the face against the Rockies. I'm not sure about him in the starter's role, but it sure is nice to see him back after the injury. 

     The Pirates are in a state of flux right now. They need to get momentum somehow or get lost in the shuffle. More or less, the Braves are just the team to help rebuild confidence. Let's see if the Pirates can come together after the events of the recent few days and start playing better. 

Pirates acquire Ivan Nova

     Pirates have acquired Ivan Nova for 2 players to be named later. 

     Ivan Nova, a free agent after the season, has had his ups and downs this year. He will join a struggling rotation. Pirates will hope for another Happ kind of situation.      

Pirates acquire Antonio Bastardo

     Pirates announce they'd swapped lefties Jon Niese and Antonio Bastardo with the Mets. 

     Bastardo had the best year of his career in Pittsburgh a year ago before signing big deal with Mets. Niese spent many years with Mets before going to Pirates for Neil Walker this winter. Deal seems like a money dumping move.