Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Baltimore Orioles - News - March 28, 2021

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Claims roster spotPirates general manager Ben Cherington said Monday that Fowler will be included on the 26-man Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

ImpactPittsburgh elected to keep Anthony Alford and Fowler as its primary options in center field over non-roster invitee Brian Goodwin, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday. Alford is expected to favorite to handle everyday duties in center, likely relegating Fowler to a fourth-outfielder role to begin the season. Utility man Phillip Evans is also a candidate to fill in at either corner spot when starters Bryan Reynolds or Greg Polanco require a day off.

MARCH 29, 2021•ROTOWIRE

Kuhl earns Opening Day start for PiratesAfter eight years in the Pirates' organization and a long road back from Tommy John surgery, Chad Kuhl will be the club's Opening Day starte...

MARCH 29, 2021•MLB.COM

Trey Mancini beats cancer for triumphant returnThe Official Site of Major League Baseball

MARCH 29, 2021•MLB.COM

Officially wins roster spotBednar has officially won a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

ImpactBednar has options remaining, so he could have been sent to the minors so the Pirates could keep other options in the organization. He forced the team's hand with a dominant spring, however, striking out 18 batters and walking just one in 8.2 scoreless innings. That's the kind of performance that could push him into a high-leverage role this season given the Pirates' lack of proven bullpen options, though he hasn't looked anything close to a high-leverage option in his 17.1 major-league innings thus far in his career, struggling to a 6.75 ERA.

MARCH 29, 2021•ROTOWIRE

Named top shortstopManager Derek Shelton said Monday that Newman will head into Opening Day as the Pirates' regular shortstop, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

ImpactAfter taking a big step back at the plate during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Newman entered the spring having to battle with the likes of Erik Gonzalez and Cole Tucker for an everyday role in the middle infield. Newman was able to easily separate himself from the competition, recording a whopping 20 hits in 29 at-bats (.690 average) while going 2-for-3 on stolen-base attempts through his first 12 Grapefruit League games. While this level of production is obviously unsustainable, Newman's bat-to-ball skills and willingness to run should at least make him a decent late-round target for fantasy managers looking for a boost in batting average and steals. He's just two years removed from a season in which he hit .308 with 16 stolen bases over 130 games.

MARCH 29, 2021•ROTOWIRE

Named leadoff hitterPirates manager Derek Shelton said Frazier will serve as the team's leadoff hitter in Thursday's regular-season opener against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

ImpactFrazier has ignited a surprisingly potent Pirates offense this spring, posting a monstrous 1.510 OPS over 39 at-bats. The small sample shouldn't supersede the .749 OPS he's posted over parts of five seasons in the majors, but Frazier's spring surge could at least give fantasy managers reason to hope that the 29-year-old may have more power upside than anticipated. Frazier hasn't merely lived off an elevated BABIP this spring, as 10 of his 21 hits entering play Monday have gone for extra bases.

MARCH 29, 2021•ROTOWIRE

Draws Opening Day nodManager Derek Shelton named Kuhl the Pirates' starter for Thursday's season opener against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

ImpactKuhl's tenure in the organization was likely enough for him to secure the Opening Day assignment over newcomer Tyler Anderson, who has been the Pirates' most consistent starter during the back half of the Grapefruit League schedule. The 28-year-old righty worked only two innings in his final outing of the spring Saturday against the Red Sox, so he could face some limitations with his workload Thursday. Kuhl made 11 appearances (nine starts) for Pittsburgh in 2020, submitting a 4.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.5 K/9.

MARCH 29, 2021•ROTOWIRE

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Baltimore Orioles - News: Mar 28, 2021

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