Cardinals host the Pirates in the season opener
The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates for the season openerAPRIL 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH PIRATES 76-86 · 2024 5TH IN NL CENTRAL
76-86 · 2024 5TH IN NL CENTRAL
Tucupita Marcano - Opening season at Double-A The Pirates optioned Marcano to Double-A Altoona on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Marcano was previously demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 24, only to move down another level two weeks later since the Pirates determined an everyday role wouldn't be available to him with the top affiliate. The move to Double-A is a disappointing one for Marcano, who made the Padres' Opening Day roster last season before being dealt to Pittsburgh in the deal that sent Adam Frazier to San Diego. Upon joining the Pirates, Marcano reported to Indianapolis and fizzled over 48 games with the affiliate, slashing .230/.325/.279 with only six extra-base hits in 210 plate appearances.
APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Gonzales - Looks good in spring action Gonzales went 5-for-11 with a pair of doubles, a steal and a 1:2 BB:K during the Pirates' spring-training slate.
Impact Fresh off dominating performances in High-A (.303/.385/.565) and the Arizona Fall League (.380/.483/.549), Gonzales just keeps hitting everywhere he goes. His next test will come in Double-A, where he'll open the 2022 campaign, and if his spring performance is any indicator, he won't be intimidated by the increased level of competition. If the Pirates were more competitive, Gonzales would have a shot at coming up this year -- and if Diego Castillo doesn't work out, he still might -- but it's more likely that he'll be in position to push for an Opening Day roster spot next season.
APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
World Series odds: Championship futures for every team, best bets
With the MLB season here, let's look at the World Series title odds for every team and best bets offered by Ben Verlander and Jake Mintz.APRIL 6, 2022
Pirates expect 'crazy' atmosphere in St. Louis thanks to return of Albert Pujols, Big Three's last ride The Pirates will be in St. Louis for Albert Pujols’ first game back with the Cardinals. They expect it to be something really special.
APRIL 6, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Report: Former Phillie Knapp Signs With Pirates Former Philadelphia Phillies backup catcher Andrew Knapp has reportedly signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
APRIL 5, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Andrew Knapp - Catches on with Bucs Knapp agreed to a contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact The Pirates haven't disclosed the terms of Knapp's contract, but after he was granted his release from Cincinnati earlier Tuesday, he's presumably joining Pittsburgh on a one-year, major-league deal to serve as the backup to No. 1 catcher Roberto Perez. Knapp was unable to beat out Aramis Garcia for the backup catcher job with the Reds, but the 30-year-old likely won't face much competition for the No. 2 spot in Pittsburgh. Knapp and Perez are currently the only catchers on the Pirates' 40-man roster, and top prospect Henry Davis is at least a year away from reaching the majors.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jerad Eickhoff - Sent out of minor-league camp The Pirates reassigned Eickhoff to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Impact Eickhoff missed out on a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day pitching staff, despite turning in a 2.45 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while striking out nine over 7.1 innings in four Grapefruit League appearances. He appeared exclusively in relief this spring, though he could vie for a spot in the rotation as he likely heads to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Hunter Owen - Moves to minor-league camp The Pirates reassigned Owen to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Impact Owen is expected to open the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he should play on a near-everyday basis. The 28-year-old made his big-league debut in 2021, going hitless across five plate appearances with Pittsburgh before he was outrighted off the 40-man roster last May.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Perez - Misses out on Opening Day roster The Pirates reassigned Perez to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Impact Perez was one of three non-roster catchers who was sent to minor-league camp Tuesday, leaving the Pirates without an obvious No. 2 option behind top backstop Roberto Perez with Opening Day just two days away. Pittsburgh will most likely explore the trade or free-agent market for another option to slot behind Roberto Perez on the depth chart.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Taylor Davis - Sent to minors The Pirates reassigned Davis to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Impact Davis was one of three non-roster catchers who was sent to minor-league camp Tuesday, leaving the Pirates without an obvious No. 2 option behind top backstop Roberto Perez with Opening Day just two days away. Pittsburgh will most likely explore the trade or free-agent market for another option to slot behind Perez on the depth chart.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Miguel Yajure - Covers two innings in spring debut Yajure (back) gave up a run on three hits over two innings Saturday in his Grapefruit League debut against the Red Sox.
Impact According to Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com, team trainer Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Yajure checked out fine following Saturday's outing, his first of the spring while he was delayed in his recovery from a lumbar spine injury that dates back to last fall. Though Yajure is seemingly back to full health as the start of the season approaches, he doesn't appear to have enough innings under his belt to seriously contend for a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day rotation. The Pirates are still aiming to develop Yajure as a starter, so he could be sent to Triple-A Indianapolis to make regular turns out of the rotation.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Mears - Should throw next week Mears (elbow) is expected to begin a throwing program next week, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Impact The Pirates placed Mears on the 60-day injured list March 15, so the 25-year-old right-hander is still in line miss the first two months of the season while he recovers from arthroscopic elbow surgery. The fact that he's on track to start throwing soon will at least give him a chance to rejoin the Pirates once the 60-day window comes to an end.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Greg Allen - Won't make Opening Day roster Allen (hamstring) won't be available for Thursday's season opener in St. Louis and is expected to be placed on either the 10- or 60-day injured list, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh...
Impact Allen was sent in for an MRI after he exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays with left hamstring tightness, and though the Pirates have yet to reveal the results of his imaging, he's seemingly dealing with more than a minor strain. Considering that a stint on the 60-day IL is potentially on the table for Allen, expect him to miss more than the minimum amount of time even if Pittsburgh opts to place him on the 10-day IL instead. Before suffering his injury, Allen was making a strong case for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Luis Oviedo - Goes on IL The Pirates placed Oviedo on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right ankle sprain, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Oviedo spent the final week of the 2021 season on the IL with a strained right shoulder, but it's a different injury that will keep him sidelined to begin the 2022 campaign. The 22-year-old right-hander didn't make any appearances during the Pirates' Grapefruit League schedule before he was moved to the IL. He'll likely be sidelined for longer than the minimum 10 days.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Sam Howard - Begins season on IL The Pirates placed Howard on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a mid-back strain, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Impact According to Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com, Howard's back injury had resulted in him being shut down from throwing as of Monday, so he seems likely to require more than the minimum amount of time on the shelf. Howard collected 12 holds and struck out 60 over 45 innings while filling a setup role for the Pirates in 2021, but poor ratios (5.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) made it difficult to extract value from him even in NL-only leagues.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Alford - Heads to IL The Pirates placed Alford on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a sprained right wrist, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com repots.
Impact Alford appeared on track to open the season in a regular starting role in the Pittsburgh outfield until he jammed his wrist last week. He hasn't appeared in the Grapefruit League lineup since March 26 and didn't show enough improvement in his recovery for the Pirates to keep him active for Thursday's season opener in St. Louis. With Alford on the mend and Greg Allen (hamstring) set to begin the season on either the 10-day or 60-day IL, Ben Gamel and Cole Tucker look to be the leading candidates for starting roles in Pittsburgh's corner outfield.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Phillies 5, Pirates 1
APRIL 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Max Kranick - Begins season on injured list The Pirates placed Kranick on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm strain, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Impact According to Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com, Kranick first experienced tightness in his right arm while throwing a live batting practice during the lockout. According to Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune, Kranick was deemed asymptomatic of the injury shortly after reporting to camp and has resumed facing hitters, but he'll still have to start the season on the IL after not making an appearance during the Grapefruit League slate. Pittsburgh will likely want to see Kranick make at least two rehab starts before activating him from the IL, and since he has minor-league options remaining, he could end up settling at Triple-A Indianapolis once he's reinstated.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ke'Bryan Hayes - Should make Opening Day lineup Hayes (ankle) is expected to be in the Pirates' Opening Day lineup Thursday against the Cardinals, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Hayes suffered a minor sprained ankle in late March and hasn't appeared in a game since March 25. He's since been spotted taking batting practice and participating in defensive drills, and team trainer Todd Tomczyk told Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com on Monday that Hayes was able to do some running on the field. Hayes will likely go through another workout Wednesday before the Pirates formally decide if he'll be part of the Opening Day lineup, but even if he ends up sitting Thursday, a stint on the injured list doesn't look to be in the cards.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yoshi Tsutsugo - Cleared to play Tuesday Tsutsugo (neck) will start at first base and bat third in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Impact Tsutsugo's inclusion in Pittsburgh's final lineup of spring training implies that he'll be good to go for the Pirates' Opening Day game Thursday against the Cardinals in St. Louis. After unproductive stints with the Rays and Dodgers to begin last season, Tsutsugo emerged as a pillar in the Pittsburgh lineup after the team signed him in August. Over his 144 plate appearances with the Pirates, Tsutsugo produced a .268/.347/.535 slash line (134 wRC+), solidifying himself as an everyday player heading into 2022 in the process.
APRIL 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Cherington defends Pirates' controversial decision to have Oneil Cruz start in minor leagues Ben Cherington met with the media on Monday and defended why the Pirates have Oneil Cruz in the minor leagues to start the season.
APRIL 5, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
MLB 2022: 40 things to watch this baseball season
FOX Sports' MLB Writers get you ready for Opening Day with their lists of the players, teams and events to watch this season.APRIL 4, 2022
Bucs want Cruz to be in 'best possible position' when called up BRADENTON, Fla -- With this year’s abbreviated Spring Training, there were many decisions to be made in a short amount of time. Perhaps the...
APRIL 4, 2022 • MLB.COM
