Notes: Bad Week Of Ball; Cruz To CF, Renegade Not Closing; Comings & Goings; Ortiz Hot; Odds & Ends

HAPPY LABOR DAY! Now if we can only get the Pirates to work…

The Cubbies rolled into town for three dates. The first game the Windy City gang played like the Bears and romped to an 18-8 blowout; at least Brady Fiegl got to make his MLB debut. It was pretty much wash, rinse, repeat the next night, too, as the Cubs ruined Jared Jones return with a 9-5 victory. The Pirates had a 10-3 lead in the seventh frame of the third game and were still up by two runs in the ninth with David Bednar on the hill. They still managed to lose, 14-10.

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After a day off, the Bucs headed to Cleveland. A day off didn’t change the vibe; despite Rowdy and Cutch homers, the Bucs were whipped, 10-8. And Holy Moly – Luis Ortiz handed off a 1-0 lead to the pen, Rowdy gave them some breathing room, and the Bucs posted a W, 3-0. The finale was the SOS, a 6-1 loss as Mitch Keller continued his dog days doldrum.

Now it’s off to Wrigley Field…

Moves/Injuries:

• OF/DH Andrew McCutchen was recalled from the 10-day IL for the Cleveland series while RHP Ben Heller was placed on the 15-day IL. C Joey Bart (Hamstring) went on the 10-day IL; Henry Davis was called up.
• The Pirates DFA’ed RHP Jake Woodford and reinstated Nick Gonzales from the IL. (Jake cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy.) The next day, RHPs Jared Jones and Carmen Mlodzewski came off the IL; LHP Brady Feigl was DFA’ed and UT Ji Hwan Bae was optioned back to Indy.
• CF Michael Taylor cleared his outright waivers and remained on the roster. 
• Relievers Colin Holderman and Ryan Borucki rejoined the team from rehab on Sunday when the rosters expanded to 28 players. 
• LHP Marco Gonzales will undergo surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow, and RHP Hunter Stratton had surgery on his recently blown out knee this week. Gonzales is expected to be out from nine-to-12 months and Hunter from seven-to-10 months.

Key – 2024 Topps

• This may be a major part of the problem: the team announced it’s in the “still learning” process of diagnosing and treating Ke’Bryan Hayes long-running core injury. Apparently the staff has a good idea of what’s causing his problems, but not much of a clue as to treating it.
• Indy RHP Braxton Ashcraft was placed on the 7-day IL the day after he pitched one inning in his first outing since coming off a month-long visit to the IL with forearm tightness. That doesn’t bode well for the Pirates #6 prospect…

• Derek Shelton announced before the Cub series that Oneil Cruz will start getting time in center field, with primarily Isiah Kiner-Falefa at SS and Nick Gonzales manning 2B. He then announced after the Cub series that David Bednar is getting a respite from closing as the Bucs will go to a closer by committee format.  
• After Saturday’s start, Luis Ortiz has posted a career-high 15 consecutive scoreless innings and dropped his ERA to 3.19.
• RHP Thomas Harrington has moved into MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list at #99. He was the Pirates #36 pick in the 2022 draft.

Thomas Harrington – 2024 photo Julio Aguilar/Getty

• Five Pirates were named to the Florida Complex (Rookie) League All-Star team. Ps Zander Mueth (he was also selected as the FCL Pitcher of the Year) & David Matoma (an 18-year-old Ugandan signed in ’23 as an international FA with a 100 MPH heater), SS Yordany De Los Santos, 2B Carlos Caro and IF Jhonny Severino. Mueth, De Los Santos and Severino are now playing for Lo-A Bradenton. 19-year-old RHP Cesar Aquino was one of four starting pitchers named to the DSL  All-Star team. He slashed 6-1/0.98 in 46 IP (12 outings, six starts) with 37 K.
• The Rangers put OF Robbie Grossman on outright waivers; his MLB career began 12 years ago when he was part of the package sent to Houston for Wandy Rodriguez. The Royals claimed him; Rob’s handy off the bench with a .282 career BA v LHP.