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• Starter Spotlight: Whisenhunting Fastballs

7-28-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Pirates wrapped up a winning home stand but, given their shortfalls on the road, optimism may be low until they return to PNC next week. Still, they head out to the west coast to face the San Francisco Giants and southpaw starter Carson Whisenhunt, who will makeContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Whisenhunting Fastballs"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Zac, Zac Zac and GONE!

7-27-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Despite not getting a ton of offense yesterday, the Bucs got enough to secure a win and now are in position for a series win and a winning homestand – a surprising outcome given the sweep courtesy of the White Sox last weekend. The final starter of theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Zac, Zac Zac and GONE!"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Oh, Merrill!

7-26-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Pittsburgh continues to struggle finding consistency at the plate this season following their 24th 1-run loss and 14th time getting shutout on the season. Today, they will look for redemption as they face Snakes starter, Merrill Kelly, who has quietly been one of the better pitchers in theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Oh,...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Toss The Ryne

7-25-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Refreshed after the off-day, the Pirates look to wrap up their home-stand against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Ryne Nelson on the docket to start today. Nelson has bounced between the rotation and bullpen for the Snakes this season as he makes his 12th start of the season andContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Toss The Ryne"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Turn Up The Heat and Melt Melton

7-23-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Following strong pitching and hitting in the first two games against Detroit, the Pirates are poised for a potential series sweep against the Tigers if they can keep hot and overcome the MLB debut of today’s starter, Troy Melton. The Tigers 10th ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) wasContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Turn Up The ...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Size Up Mize

7-22-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After another elite performance from Paul Skenes, the Pirates finally got back in the win column and look to keep that momentum going tonight with the next Tigers starter, Casey Mize. The Pirates faced him last month in Detroit and, while they didn’t look completely overmatched, Mize postedContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Size ...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Blackburn After Reading

6-28-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After an offensive outburst to open the series, the Pirates will look to continue the hot hitting against long-time Athletics arm, Paul Blackburn, who has been thrust back into the Mets rotation as injuries to starters pile up. Acquired from the A’s at last year’s trade deadline, BlackburnContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Blackb...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Another Shot Of Jameson

6-12-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The oft-injured, two-time Tommy John surgery-recipient Jameson Taillon while with the Pirates has been the picture of health over his time since leaving the Steel City as he has 28 or more starts in each of the past four years and is on pace to make it aContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Another Shot Of Jameson"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Once More With Gusto

6-4-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Following yet another shutout performance by the anemic offense, the Pirates will look to fill their sails tonight against rookie Ryan Gusto, who has a 3-2 record and 4.62 ERA through his first 39 MLB innings. Gusto has been thrust into a starting role due to injury woesContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Once More With Gusto"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Hit ‘Em If You’re Abel

5-18-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X It’s been a windy road to the bigs for Phillies pitcher Mick Abel, who was a first round pick and surged through the Phils system before stagnating due to injuries and inconsistency as he spent parts of the past three seasons at the top minor league affiliate beforeContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Hit ‘Em If You’re Abel"...2025
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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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: Blackburn After Reading
2025

Read about Paul Blackburn trade rumors
• Starter Spotlight: Welcome Back, Priester

5-24-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Game 3 of the weekend series with the Brewers and the Pirates will see the return of former Bucco, Quinn Priester – who was dealt at last year’s deadline to the Boston Red Sox before being flipped to the Brewers last month. Drafted in the 1st round ofContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Welcome Back, Priester"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Nick At Night

5-19-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With both teams surging in drastically different directions, the Pirates welcome the Reds and former Pirate draft pick in lefty Nick Lodolo, who will be making his tenth start on the year as he comes into today with a 3.42 ERA through his first 52.2 innings pitched. LodoloContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Nick At Night"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Sorry Not Soriano

4-21-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X There’s no bad blood between the Pirates and their former Rule 5 draft pick, Jose Soriano – who will oppose the Bucs in tonight’s game. Selected by the Pirates 1-1 in the 2020 MLB Rule 5, Soriano was injured before he could debut with the Bucs and endedContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Sorry Not Soriano"...2025
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Starter Spotlight: A Civale War

7-20-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Looking to avoid being swept at home by one of the only teams worse than them in the standings was not how the Pirates likely envisioned this series going but, here we are. After allowing 10 runs in each of the first two games this weekend, the BucsContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: A Civale War"...2025
• 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
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• 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
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• Starter Spotlight: Size Up Mize
2025

See also Paul Skenes
• Starter Spotlight: Yoshi Yama-Oh No!

4-25-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Heading into the Dodgers series with slightly less momentum but still feeling good following a series victory in Anaheim, the Pirates will face off against one of the hottest pitchers in MLB, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Coming off a World Series-winning rookie season where Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00Continue reading "Starter Spotlight: Y...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: We Meet Again, Mr. Anderson

4-24-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Following a stellar start by Andrew Heaney, the Pirates are poised to get not only their first sweep of the season but their first time winning 3 games straight. Opposing them to halt that momentum, old friend in journeyman lefty, Tyler Anderson, who pitched for Pittsburgh in 2021.Continue reading "Starter Spotlight: We Meet Again,...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Whisenhunting Fastballs
2025
• Starter Spotlight: Zac, Zac Zac and GONE!
2025

See also White Sox
• Starter Spotlight: Oh, Merrill!
2025

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• Starter Spotlight: Toss The Ryne
2025

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• Starter Spotlight: Turn Up The Heat and Melt Melton
2025

Continue with MLB Pipeline
• Starter Spotlight: Size Up Mize
2025

See more articles Paul Skenes
• Starter Spotlight: A Flare For Dramatics

7-21-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After another rough series this weekend, the Pirates will try to rebound – but after losing three straight to one of the worst teams in baseball, they’ll have to face off against of one of the best as they welcome the Tigers to the Steel City with JackContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: A Flare For Dramatics"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: A Civale War
2025

1. White Sox

2. World Series

3. Red Sox

. . .

1919. Michael Castrignano

• Starter Spotlight: Skubal-Dooby Doo!

6-18-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X After struggling to piece together much against Casey Mize yesterday, the Pirates will have an even tougher challenge today in defending AL Cy Young-winner, Tarik Skubal. Selected 254 picks after yesterday’s starter in the 2018 MLB Draft, Skubal has been inarguably the best starting pitcher in MLB theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Skub...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Sandy Toes, Sorry Woes

6-10-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X On to game two after an offensive explosion by the Pirates with another Marlins starting pitcher still reeling from Tommy John. Sandy Alcantara will toe the rubber as he tries to get things right but it’s a season that has been going so very wrong. Among all MLBContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Sandy Toes, Sorry Woes"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Sweet Cris-mas!

6-8-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Pirates will try once more for their first sweep of the season, one of the few teams in MLB who have yet to achieve this feat. To do that, they’ll need to go through Cristopher Sanchez, who has been one of the best starting pitchers in theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Sweet Cris-mas!"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Go, Go, Power Ranger

6-7-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X The Pirates walked it off last night after a bullpen battle for both sides but will have to contend with a much more established starting pitcher for today’s game in Ranger Suarez, who enters today with a perfect 4-0 record and sparkling 2.72 ERA through his first 36.1Continue reading "Starter Spotlight: Go, Go, Power Ranger"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Once More With Gusto
2025
• Starter Spotlight: Logan’s Run

5-25-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Heading into the final game of the homestead with a shot at taking 3 of 4 from the rival Brewers, the Pirates have been riding high on some late-game heroics. While they need to find a way to break-through against starting pitchers, runs may be tough to findContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Logan’s Run"...2025
• Starter Spotlight: Seize A Kodai(k) Moment

5-13-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X Following a close game last night that had a number of photo finishes, Pittsburgh will pivot to their next matchup. Unfortunately for them, it’s not an easy one with Kodai Senga taking the ball for the Mets, following up on his picture-perfect 2023 rookie campaign and entering theContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Seize A K...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Don’t Peter Out, Son!

5-12-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X With the Pirates on the road again, heading to Queens to face the NL East-leading Mets, they’ll see starting pitcher David Peterson, who is off to a strong start to his 2025 campaign. After breaking out last year with a 2.90 ERA over 121 innings of work –Continue reading "Starter Spotlight: Don’t Peter Out, Son!"...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Today’s Starter is A.S.S.

5-10-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X I am fully prepared for the Pirates to get mowed down after a headline like this, especially given how the last outing went for tonight’s starter, AJ Smith-Shawver – who took a no-hitter into the 8th inning against the Reds on Monday night. Smith-Shawver is starting to solidifyContinue reading "Starter Spotlight: Today’s Star...2025
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• Starter Spotlight: Miles Away From Where We Need To Be

5-5-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X As the losing streak stretches to four games, the fan morale has never been lower. After entering this season with the team expressing confidence that they would be in playoff contention, there have been nothing but ineffective offense and inconsistent defense. Nevertheless, the Pirates head west to faceContinue reading "Starter Spo...2025

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