Buccos Cove

After combining for four errors in yesterday's doubleheader, the inexperience of the 2020 Pirates is starting to show through. The Pirates have to work through errors to come out on the other side of it. In game two of yesterday's doubleheader, the Pirates had what looked like a convincing lead taken away by defensive miscues. The Pirates committed three errors, and one mental error, that led to six runs and turned a 2-1 Pirates lead into a 7-2 Cardinals lead. The only hit in that inning was a three-run home run Dylan Carson that took the game from a somewhat manageable deficit to an almost insurmountable mountain to climb. It put a capper on what would become a four-error night and extended the Pirates lead for the most errors in the Major Leagues with 45. It has been frustrating not only for fans but for the players and coaches as well, see Jacob Stallings getting ejected last night. Unfortunately, with a young team errors are something that you are going to have ...

After a great start to the season, Pirates starter Steven Brault had hit a little rough patch over his last three outings. However, all that changed with last night's complete game, two-hit performance in the Pirates 5-1 win. Over his last three starts with the Pirates, Steven Brault had hit a rough patch. Over his previous four outings, he was 0-3 with a 6.72 ERA and just wasn't being as effective as he once was. He started the season not allowing an earned run in his first four appearances as a starter, and he was looking to recapture some of that magic at season's end. He did just that with the best performance of his career last night, throwing a complete-game two-hitter in the Pirates 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Not only was it a big win for the Pirates, but a big win for Brault personally as he set a career-high with eight strikeouts while finishing out the masterpiece. He didn't do it with overpowering stuff, but by controlling his pitch...

As the 2020 season comes down to its conclusion, the Pirates get set to wrap up their final homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals. We look at what to expect in this five-game series to kick off a nine-game homestand. It has been a rough stretch for the Pirates over their final 20 games of the 2020 season. After a dismal 4-16 start, the Pirates looked like they were going to turn things around going 10-10 over their next 20 games. However, since then things have gone downhill for the Bucs as they have lost each of their last eight games and currently sit at 14-34 with the worst record in Major League Baseball. With 12 games remaining in the season, the Pirates need to win six of those games to get to 20 wins and have a respectable record. However, the road will not be easy as they have to face the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians to end the season. They kick off their final homestand of 2020 with a five-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals,...

In a year that has seen the bullpen struggle mightily, there are a few relievers who are flying under the radar and are having solid seasons. One of those guys is Chris Stratton, who continued his efforts in last night's 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. To say that the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen has been a dysfunctional mess this season would be an understatement. Injuries and ineffectiveness have thrust guys into positions they weren't ready for, and the team suffered the consequences. However, one guy who is flying under the radar for the Pirates so far is a right-handed long reliever, Chris Stratton. Now, when you think about your best reliever in the bullpen, you don't often think about your long relief. They usually come in when the starter gets hurt or the game is out of hand. Because they often pitch in low-leverage situations, they don't get the attention that the closers and set-up men do, but they are still very important to any good Major League b...

After several years of hard work to improve himself as a pitcher, Blake Cederlind finally reaped the rewards of his efforts, making his MLB debut last night. He brought a fresh new perspective to the Pirates bullpen bringing velocity that the Pirates haven't seen in a while. A look at the current state of the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen does not scare many opposing teams. Injuries have hampered the group all season with guys like Nick Burdi and Kyle Crick missing over half the season with injuries. It has left guys like Richard Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas, and even Derek Holland to be in positions they aren't normally used to. After the excitement of bringing up top prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes a couple of weeks ago, the Pirates added to their bullpen with the promotion of another top prospect who emerged on the scene last season. Blake Cederlind got the call in the bottom of the sixth inning for his Major League debut and didn't disappoint with a 1-2-3 frame. ...

When the Pirates were desperately in need of someone to step up, Erik Gonzalez did just that earning the starting shortstop position. But, is Gonzalez the answer at short long term, or is all this success leading to a possible off-season trade? A few weeks ago, the Pirates were in desperate need of some offense, especially among their infielders. Josh Bell, Adam Frazier, and Kevin Newman were all struggling and Ke'Bryan Hayes was still down at the Pirates satellite camp. That is when infielder Erik Gonzalez answered the call and essentially hit his way into the starting lineup. From August 2nd through August 14th, Gonzalez compiled a stretch where he hit .451, picking up at least one hit in seven of his eight games played. Initially, the Pirates used him at third base but now, with the emergence of Hayes and Frazier moving to the outfield, Gonzalez has slid in as the team's everyday shortstop for the month of September. Gonzalez's numbers have started to come ba...

After a disappointing series in Kansas City, the Pirates continue their road trip when they head to Cincinnati on Monday. The Pirates have a chance to put that series in the rearview mirror with a doubleheader of action today. To say that the Pittsburgh Pirates' most recent three-game series in Kansas City was a disappointment would be an understatement. Against a team that the Pirates matched up pretty well against on paper, they were outscored 22-7 with the worst of those games coming in yesterday's 11-0 loss. However, the Pirates have a chance to put all of that behind them today as they travel to Cincinnati to start a five-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates will have plenty to keep their mind off of the last series today when they play two with the Reds. By the time 4:10 pm rolls around the Pirates will be looking to bust out the bats in a hitter-friendly ballpark. The first two series against the Reds this season have been deadlocked as the Pirat...