In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
A series victory is always nice
Yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1, securing a series win. The Pirates don’t have much to play for right now outside of pride and ruining other teams’ playoff aspirations. The Cardinals currently sit 2.5 games back of the final NL Wildcard spot and need all the wins they can get. The Pirates got to hurt their rival’s playoff dreams and showed they still take pride in their work. That’s a pretty solid victory for a team heading towards 85 or more losses.
Jameson Taillon did not have his best stuff, however, he pitched well enough to win as he went five innings, allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Taillon hasn’t been consistent since the All-Star Break but the rookie has plenty to play for as he attempts to finish his season on a high note. Jameson Taillon has endured more than most young pitchers so it’s easy to see why nearly everyone roots for him. I sincerely hope the kid can finally have a year without a terrible medical crisis. He deserves to chance to show the baseball world what he can do with a clean bill of health.
Players of the Year
The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have a ton of success at the Big League level this year but there were some bright spots down on the farm. Jordan Luplow and Steven Brault took home the Minor League Hitter and Pitcher of the Year respectively for the Pirates.
Luplow has shown a fairly solid approach in his brief time with the Pirates but between Double-A and Triple-A this year, the kid was a monster. In 117 minor league game this year, the 23-year-old hit .302/.381/.527/.907 with 23 home runs and 56 RBIs. A Minor League Player of the Year award doesn’t guarantee future success but it’s a nice feather in the cap for a young prospect. Luplow may never be a superstar Big Leaguer but if the kid continues to hit, he will undoubtedly receive a shot in 2018.
Steven Brault is a name most Pirates fans know as he was the key piece in the Travis Snider trade prior to the 2015 season. In his brief time with the Pirates, he’s shown flashes of absolute brilliance but with some classic young pitcher struggles mixed in. However, for the Indianapolis Indians, he was the unquestioned ace of the team. In 20 starts, he pitched a 1.94ERA with 109 strikeouts and just 44 walks allowed. The Pirates currently have a plethora of young pitching prospects waiting for their shot but Steven Brault likely cemented a series look come Spring Training 2018. He was absolutely dynamic for a team that finished with one of the best records in the International League
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