Michael Castrignano rumors, news

Breaking news and rumors

Injuries and suspensions

Trade rumors, contract, salary

Stats and scores

Top stories

Schedules and games

• Starter Spotlight: Make Or Jake Time

4-15-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After finally breaking through with a big offensive outburst yesterday, the Pirates will look to continue the hot hitting against Jake Irvin. Irvin enters with a 5.63 ERA through his first three starts, which came against some solid offensive opposition in the Phillies, Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Additionally, heContinue reading "St...2025
See more articles Jake Irvin headline news
• Series Preview: Nationals (6-9) at Pirates (5-11)

4-14-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Heading back home after the road series in Cincinnati, the Pirates welcome a third straight sub-.500 team with hopes to jump start the offense. The Nationals are coming off dropping a series on the road to the Miami Marlins but had won series against each the Los AngelesContinue reading "Series Preview: Nationals (6-9) at Pirates&#...2025
See also Miami Marlins news and rumors
• Starter Spotlight: Oh, Lord, We Need Some Runs

4-14-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Prayers from fans have gone unanswered as Pirates appear steadfast in maintaining the worst offense in MLB. With Paul Skenes on the mound, you feel like maybe there’s a chance, but you HAVE to score runs and that’s been the hang-up for this squad. Today’s matchup welcomes theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Oh, Lord, We N...2025
Check it out Paul Skenes headline news
• Starter Spotlight: Greene With Envy

4-13-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X This offense is tough to watch against normal pitching but going up against Hunter Greene today – who finished 8th in Cy Young voting last season – is a whole different animal. This team has shown a complete inability to hit anything so maybe facing one of theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Greene With Envy"...2025
See also Hunter Greene
• Starter Spotlight: All Abbott Andrew

4-12-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X In a southpaw showdown today, Andrew Heaney will face Andrew Abbott, who is making his 2025 debut. A left shoulder strain ended his 2024 campaign prematurely and delayed his start to this season as well but the 2021 2nd round pick is back and eager to pick upContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: All Abbott Andrew"...2025
See more Andrew Heaney news
• Starter Spotlight: Make Him Sing

4-11-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Reds open the weekend series in Cincinnati with one of their top offseason acquisitions, Brady Singer, on the bump for the Friday evening game with the Pirates. Following 5 seasons with the Kansas City Royals where he went 36-44 with a 4.28 ERA in 685.1 innings, SingerContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Make Him Sing"...2025
Continue with Brady Singer news and rumors

• Starter Spotlight: Walker Buehler

6-6-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X As the Pirates look for a sweep of the visiting Dodgers, they will face off against Walker Buehler – who is looking to make up for lost time after missing most of 2022 and all of 2023 due to injury and an eventual second Tommy JohnContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Walker Buehler"...2024
Continue with Walker Buehler injury status
• Cutch Hits 2K and Keller has 7 Ks as Bucs Best Mets 2-1 (34-30)

6/11/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter 14 years and 7 days. Five different teams. Overcoming injuries and moving primarily into a DH-role. Now, Andrew McCutchen joins the 2,000 hit club as its 290th member. McCutchen notched his 1,999th hit on Friday night on a third inning, infield-single to shortstop. He wasn’t able toContinue reading "Cutch Hits 2K and Keller ha...2023
Click for news about Andrew McCutchen
• Cedric Mullins Hits for Cycle as Orioles Down Pirates 6-3 (21-18)

5/12/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter A game which seemed to be very winnable throughout the night came crashing down when Mullins hit a 3-run home run in the 8th inning to finish off the cycle on the night. He had previously singled in the third, tripled in the fifth and doubled inContinue reading "Cedric Mullins Hits for Cycle as Orioles Down Pirates 6-3 (21-18)"...2023
Read about Cedric Mullins availability report
• Defending Champion Houston Astros Trounce Bucs in Series Opener: (6-4)

4/10/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter Reeling from losing Oneil Cruz on Sunday, the Pirates scuffled on Monday night, dropping the opening game of the Astros series 8-2. It was announced earlier in the day that Cruz had surgery to repair his fractured left ankle and would be out for 4 months. RoansyContinue reading "Defending Champion Houston Astros Trounce Bucs in Seri...2023
See more Oneil Cruz injury report
• Assessing the Southpaw Situation

3-10-23 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter The old adage of “never having enough arms” is never more true than when your only proven left-handed relief pitcher goes down with an injury in spring training. Jarlin Garcia, signed this past off-season, appears slated to start the season on the injured list. In recentContinue reading "Assessing the Southpaw Situation"...2023
Visit the page Jarlin Garcia injuries

2025
"1-10-25 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Ok, I took a couple months off and am able to start settling in for the Pirates off-season with a little over a month before pitchers and catchers report."

2024
"1-10-23 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Last week, I looked at the outfield, breaking down the myriad of options and illustrating the options and difficulties at filling the three positions (four, counting bench player) on the grass."

2023
"2-22-23 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter With Spring Training off and running, I decided to dive into the roster and try to determine who could be a breakout player in 2023."

• Starter Spotlight: Walk of Shane

4-1-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X March was not a good start for the Pirates but as the calendar turns, could their luck turn as well? They’ll have to hope so as they face off against former Pirates first round draft pick, Shane Baz. The 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Baz wasContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Walk of Shane"...2025
Read about Shane Baz trade rumors
• At Hor-witz End: Why Spencer Horwitz Might Be The Pirates MVP in 2025

2-7-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X It’s been a fairly tepid off-season for the Pirates. After spending $33.2M on free agents last year and entering the season pledging that the goal was to win the division, they limped down the stretch en route to another 5th place finish. This off-season, they have been lessContinue reading "At Hor-witz End: Why Spencer Horwitz Migh...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Nick LodoLOL

6-18-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With a chance to earn a series win, the Bucs bats will have to face-off against a former Pirates draft pick in Nick Lodolo. Entering today’s game, the southpaw has a 7-2 record, 2.93 ERA, 1.06 WHIP with 62 Ks to 15 walks. He’s won each of hisContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Nick LodoLOL"...2024
See more articles Nick Lodolo trade rumors
• Starter Spotlight: Shades of Gray

6-12-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Signed to a free agent contract for 3 years, $75M this past off-season, Sonny Gray was an AL Cy Young runner up in 2023, finishing with a 2.79 ERA, 3.64 xFIP and 2.83 FIP. This year, the 34-year old has seen a small spike in his ERA to 3.29 butContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Shades of Gray"...2024
See more Sonny Gray salary rumors
• Starter Spotlight: James Paxton
6-5-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Following a win in the opening game last night against the flame-throwing right-handed pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, the Pirates will look to keep rolling against contact-oriented southpaw in James Paxton. The veteran Paxton joined the Dodgers as a free agent this past offseason, providing a steadying presence despite notContinue reading "S...2024
Check it out James Paxton salary rumors
• Series Preview: Cubs (22-16) at Pirates (17-21)

5-10-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X We waited for not even 9 months but the day has nearly arrived: Skenes Day! That’s right, 2023 first overall draft pick, Paul Skenes, will make his MLB debut on Saturday to a likely PACKED PNC Park and face division rival Chicago Cubs. This is a matchup ofContinue reading "Series Preview: Cubs (22-16) at Pirates (17-21)"...2024
Check it out Paul Skenes salary
• Spring Breakout Preview

3-13-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X When it was announced this past off-season that MLB would be holding spring scrimmages strictly involving prospects, it seemed inevitable that the Pirates and Orioles would be two of the teams playing in spotlight games. Both teams have built up their farm system through trades and draft over the pastContinue reading "Spring Breakout Preview"...2024
• Mets Offense Explodes As Bucs Bats Snooze, Losing 7-2 (53-66)
8/14/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter Heading to Queens to face the Mets, pre-ordained World Series contenders in the spring with their bloated payroll and lofty contracts, looking at an identical 53-65 record as the Pirates prior to the game. While Pittsburgh’s season has been a bit of a let-down for fans followingContinue reading "Mets Offense Explodes As Bucs Bats Sn...2023
Click for news about World Series contract

• Outlook Hayesy

2-21-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X One of the players for whom fans have had the most up-and-down expectations and results over the past few years, Ke’Bryan Hayes has had some high highs and some low lows in his first five seasons in black and gold. He surged to a stellar Covid-abbreviated 2020 beforeContinue reading "Outlook Hayesy"...2025
Check it out Bryan Hayes
• Bullpen Struggles Continue As Bucs Swept, Lose 8-4 (41-52)
7/16/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter The old quote of “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” really seems to hit home when a scuffling offense with clear areas of struggle sees no change after the All Star Break. Austin Hedges caught two gamesContinue reading "Bullpen Struggles Continue As Bucs Swept, Lose 8-4...2023
Click for news about Austin Hedges scores

• Starter Spotlight: Make Or Jake Time
2025

Check it out Jake Irvin
• Series Preview: Nationals (6-9) at Pirates (5-11)
2025

Click for news about Miami Marlins
• Starter Spotlight: Oh, Lord, We Need Some Runs
2025

See also Paul Skenes
• Starter Spotlight: Greene With Envy
2025

See more Hunter Greene
• Starter Spotlight: All Abbott Andrew
2025

See also Andrew Heaney
• Starter Spotlight: Make Him Sing
2025

Read about Brady Singer
• Series Preview: Pirates (5-8) at Reds (5-8)

4-11-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Reds and Pirates have entered the season with similar goals on the year and have struggled in essentially the same ways out of the gate. The Pirates offense ranks dead last in MLB for batting average (.198) while the Reds are pacing 14th in the NL inContinue reading "Series Preview: Pirates (5-8) at Reds (5-8)"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Get Ready For Fedde

4-9-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Heading into a rubber match with the Cardinals, the Bucs send out Mitch Keller to face Erick Fedde, who has had two starts – one great and one really awful – as he enters play today with a 7.00 ERA through his first 9 innings pitched thus far.Continue reading "Starter Spotlight: Get Ready For Fedde"...2025
See more articles Mitch Keller

1. White Sox

2. World Series

3. Red Sox

. . .

2421. Michael Castrignano

• Starter Spotlight: Oh, Lord, We Need Some Runs
2025

Check it out Paul Skenes
• Southpaw Strategy

4-4-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Out of the gate this season, the Pirates have faced 7 straight right handed starting pitchers. Given that the 13-man position player pool consists of 6 who can hit left-handed, one would presume a fairly equal split on both sides of the plate. Much of those lefties includeContinue reading "Southpaw Strategy"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Max Effort

3–30-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After a pair of walk-off losses this series, the Pirates will need a bit extra if they want to avoid dropping 3 of 4 to the Marlins. On the other side of the bump, Miami’s starting pitcher will be looking for a much different outcome than the lastContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Max Effort"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Starting Off Walking Sandy Beaches

3–27-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X It’s officially baseball season (I mean, if you don’t count that silly Dodgers/Cubs thing last week) and we are BACK underway evaluating and discussing opposing starting pitchers. Today, the Pirates head to South Beach and will open the season with Cy Young finalist, Paul Skenes, facing off againstContinue reading "Starter Spotligh...2025
See also Cy Young
• Hit Your Best Bat Leadoff
3-21-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With the season starting in less than a week, let’s get REALLY radical with my last pre-season article topic: Lineup Construction. Hold on, I know what you’re thinking. “Shelton tinkers with the lineup too much. He never stays consistent with a batting order. Yadda, yadda, yadda.” I can’tContinue reading "Hit Your Best Bat Leadoff...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Hunting Heat With Greene

6-25-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Another day, another repeated Reds matchup as Pirates send out Mitch Keller to once again face off against Cincinnati flamethrower in Hunter Greene. Last week, Greene tossed 6.1 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball against the Bucs with zero walks and 9 strikeouts over his 106 pitches thrown. ItContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Hunting...2024
Check it out Mitch Keller
• Series Preview: Reds (34-37) at Pirates (34-37)
6-17-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Pirates head home to face divisional foe Cincinnati Reds with both teams having their eyes on October baseball and reigniting the fires of rivalry in their first series of the season. This is also a first matchup of the tallest shortstops in baseball as MLB’s stolen base leaderContinue reading "Series Preview: Reds (34-37) at Pirates...2024
Visit the page Cincinnati Reds
• Series Preview: Pirates (31-34) at Cardinals (31-33)

6-11-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With the new schedule format, this is the first time that the Pirates and Cardinals will face off this season. Both teams may be at the bottom of the division looking up but each have been battling as of late with the Pirates notching critical series wins againstContinue reading "Series Preview: Pirates (31-34) at Cardinals (31-...2024
• Tyler Glasnow: Revenge Game
6-4-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X New series! If you follow me on X, you have likely seen my near daily posts breaking down the opposing starting pitcher. We’re going to move that over to Steel City Pirates going forward to provide a more easily accessible format for everyone. Starting off withContinue reading "Tyler Glasnow: Revenge Game"...2024
Click for news about Tyler Glasnow
• Series Preview: Dodgers (38-23) at Pirates (27-32)

6-4-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X If there is a David vs. Goliath in MLB, it’s whenever the Pirates and Dodgers face off as the Pirates have won 8 of the last 13 games against LA. Adding the reigning AL MVP in Shohei Ohtani to a lineup that includes former MVPs in Mookie BettsContinue reading "Series Preview: Dodgers (38-23) at Pirates (27-32)"...2024
Click for news about Shohei Ohtani

MLB - baseball breaking news, rumors, trades and scores...