In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
The long wait is finally over as we have meaningful baseball on the docket today.
The long, and mostly quiet offseason is over and the Pirates can get back to trying to win games, something they struggled with the past two seasons.
Most of the faces are familiar as Clint Hurdle has mostly the same team back from 2017 with the exception of newcomers Colin Moran, Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, all who came over in the Gerrit Cole trade. Reliever Josh Smoker is the only other new face for Opening Day.
For many, including myself, it will be very strange not seeing Andrew McCutchen in a Pirates uniform on Opening Day.
There’s a lot of negativity surrounding this team heading into the season with an offseason filled with protest and boycott talk, but regardless of the stance you take, it’s hard not to get excited for a new baseball season to begin.
Of course Mother Nature has to cooperate as well as the weather in Detroit is not supposed to be very good today so we will wait and see.
This country is divided on politics and other issues, but Opening Day is one day of the year where everyone should be in agreement as it’s one of the best days of the calendar year.
As for the pitching matchup, the Bucs send Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.14 ERA in 2017) to the hill against the Tigers Jordan Zimmerman (8-13, 6.08).
I posted the Pirates starting lineup yesterday, which you can feel free to take a look.
With that being said, there’s not much else left to say except: PLAY BALL.
UPDATE: 9:04 AM: The Pirates and Tigers opener has been postponed until Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm.
Pirates Guide – the perfect gift for a Pittsburgh Pirates fan
Our 280-page Pittsburgh Pirates 2018 season preview book is now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback formats! CLICK HERE to learn more. Makes a perfect gift for any Pirates fan in your life.
Baseball talk on the web
- 2018 Opening Day guide
- Salvador Perez out 4-6 weeks
- Mets icon Rusty Staub passes away at 73
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