As noted by Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pirates GM Ben Cherington made his weekly radio appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh earlier today. In that appearance, Cherington raised the right-hander Paul Skenes he is in “good shape” in terms of his innings performance so far this season. The starter has thrown 108 innings so far this year between the majors and minor leagues, just shy of his career high of 129 1/3 between LSU and the minors last year. Cherington went on to suggest that although the club could consider reducing Skenes' pitch figures at some point but did not commit to that approach, instead noting that the right-hander's solid preparation between starts puts him in a good position to handle the volume, and that. The club is focused on how well he recovers between starts instead of his pitch count or career total innings.
That has calmed Pirates fans, as Pittsburgh will need every inning they can get from their young ace as they look to get into the playoff conversation. The Pirates currently sit at a perfect 56-54 record after the trade deadline. Although they are six games back of the Brewers for the NL Central crown as things stand, Pittsburgh sits just 2.5 games back in a crowded NL Wild Card picture that includes the Braves, Diamondbacks, Padres, Mets, and Cardinals. Skenes has been a big part of the team's resurgence this year, as the team has won nine of the 13 games they have started since making their debut in mid-May. The team's record as a starting pitcher is an imperfect measure of that pitcher's success, but it's clear that Skenes helped the Pirates in a big way by posting a sparkling 1.90 ERA in 80 2/3 innings of work while striking out just one. For the third time the batsmen faced entering the game today.
Skenes isn't the only small arm Cherington has commented on, as he revealed the right-hander. Jared Jones “really close” to a rehab assignment at Triple-A following a live 45-pitch bullpen session. Cherington suggested that Jones' first outing could have had the same average value as before. Pittsburgh's other top rookie has been on the IL for 15 days since Independence Day due to a back strain, but before that injury he was looking good in his first season as a major player with a 3.56 ERA and a 26.4% strikeout rate. -91 employees. Jones' return to action should not only give the club a boost, but give them a chance to rotate the dreaded playoff run alongside Skenes once again. Mitch Keller if the club was able to make the postseason for the first time since 2015.
While the news surrounding Jones and Skenes is undoubtedly good, turning to the roster yields mixed results. A veteran slugger Andrew McCutchen is out of today's lineup after being ruled out of yesterday's game due to what the team announced as a strained left quad muscle. It's unclear whether or not the 37-year-old will need a trip to the injured list because of the issue, but an extended stay for McCutchen could be a big change for a struggling Pirates team. it started firing on all cylinders in the lineup after the addition Bryan De La Cruz again Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the trade deadline. The veteran, who slashed a respectable .228/.328/.383 with a 102 wRC+ as the team's primary DH this year, could be replaced Connor Joe or a youngster currently in Triple-A like Edward Olivares on the first line if an IL stint is required. A hunter Joey Bart DH'ing in today's game, it opens up space Yasmani Grandal behind the plate.
Speaking of anglers, Cherington offered some good news today when he revealed that there is a “chance” that long-term prospect of catching. Andy Rodriguez He could play in minor league games before the end of the year despite undergoing what was thought to be season-ending UCL surgery back in December. Cherington cautioned that any such conditioning games would come first at DH and first base because of the excessive stress placed on the catcher's arm, though he did not completely close the door that Rodriguez could get time behind the plate. before the end of the year. The 24-year-old switch hitter hit .220/.284/.328 in his first taste of the majors last year but is a career .282/.361/.442 hitter at Triple-A who was a top-50 prospect before his first start. and subsequent injuries last year.
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