LeBlanc or Locke: Who Should the Pirates Keep

With Arbitration Time looming of the horizon the Pittsburgh Pirates have a total of eight arbitration eligible players including five starters. The two starters that have questionable futures with the Pirates are Wade LeBlanc and Jeff Locke. Each has MLB starting experience but which one will the Pirates want to go with moving forward.

We are about a month into the Pittsburgh Pirates off-season and while the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs are still thinking about this season, the Pirates are already taking a look ahead to try to top the Cubs in the 2017 season. That means its time to take a look at the arbitration eligible players on this years Pirates team.

The Pirates have a total of eight arbitration eligible players including Tony Watson, Juan Nicasio, Jared Hughes, Jordy Mercer, Jeff Locke, Drew Hutchinson, Wade LeBlanc, and Gerrit Cole. Of that list Watson, Hughes, Mercer, Hutchinson, and Cole are almost guaranteed contracts for the 2017 season. Nicasio was only signed to a one year contract by the Pirates this off-season and will more than likely not be tendered a contract.

That leaves the Pirates with two question marks on this list in LeBlanc and Locke. Both have starter experience throughout their careers and both pitched out of the bullpen in 2016 for the Pirates. The Pirates are still looking for a long-relief man, but the rotation looks to be in good shape, so the Pirates only have to keep one of these two options.

The first option has been with the Pirates since the 2011 season and has had an up and down career overall to say the least. Last season he went 9-8 with a 5.44 ERA striking out 73 and walking 44 in 127.1 innings of work. Locke started the year off in the Pirates rotation, but of his 19 starts he allowed four or more runs eight times throughout the season and his ERA skyrocketed.

He was then moved to the bullpen permanently late in the season where he was relegated to long relief duties. He actually performed well in the Pirates bullpen compiling a total of five shutout outings as well as not giving up more than three earned runs in any of his bullpen appearances. 

With Jeff Locke their are two scenarios you can encounter. Either he will pitch like a number one starter in any rotation or you will get a guy who doesnt belong in the big leagues. These inconsistencies have killed Locke throughout his Pirates career. The biggest example of this coming in 2013 when he was named to the all-star game for his stellar first half. However, in the second half he would fall apart and would end the year with a record of 10-7 and a 3.52 ERA. That season would be the best one of his career.

About the only thing Locke has been consistent with over his MLB career is the number of innings he logs for the Pirates. In each season since he was named to the Pirates starting rotation, he has pitched at least 130 innings. Injuries have not been a problem for Locke throughout his career and he has been able to stay healthy over the course of his career.

One key contributing factor to Locke's struggles is the number of hits he has given up over his career, especially in the last two seasons. In 2016, he through 127.1 innings of work and gave up a total of 151 hits. In 2015, he gave up 179 hits in 168.1 innings of work. The more batters can put the bat on the ball, the more runs you are going to give up.

While Locke has struggled throughout his career, it hasnt been easy sailing for Wade LeBlanc either. LeBlanc came to the Pirates in a waiver trade that sent LeBlanc to the Pirates and a player to be named later or cash to the Seattle Mariners. LeBlanc slipped right into the Pirates bullpen and helped to add depth for the final month and a half of the season.

LeBlanc pitched very well out of the Pirates bullpen through eight games putting together an 1-0 record with a 0.75 ERA striking out 10 and walking two over 12 innings of work. LeBlanc was used mostly as a middle reliever for the Pirates at the end of the 2016 season helping to bridge the gap between the starters and Tony Watson at the end of the bullpen.

However, LeBlanc does have some starting experience in his career. For the Mariners last season he appeared in 11 games and made eight starts going 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA striking out 41 and walking nine through 50 innings of work. LeBlanc has played for five different MLB teams throughout his career and has spent a lot of that time as a starter.

He broke into the big leagues with the San Diego Padres and struggled as his ERA rose just a little bit every single year. He then joined the, at that time, Florida Marlins where his downward spiral continued. He then moved to the bullpen in 2014 where brought his ERA back down to a respectable 3.94. He missed all of the 2015 season and came back this year with the Mariners.

One plus with LeBlanc is his experience both as a starter and in the bullpen. LeBlanc could be used anywhere from a one to two inning guy all the way up to starting in games for the Pirates. Manager Clint Hurdle loves to use his pitchers in multiple roles so LeBlanc fits that aspect just from his experience alone.

One concern with LeBlanc, however, is the high ERA throughout his career. His career low ERA came in his first full big league season where it sat at 3.69. It has gone up every year since then, with exception  to 2014 and 2016. LeBlanc is another guy who gives up a lot of hits throughout his career and can get into trouble in that aspect.

LeBlanc will strike out his fair share of batters as the Pirates saw this season when he struck out 10 in 12 innings of work. Over his career, LeBlanc has a K/9 ratio of 6.25 which is a little bit above the league average. He has also been able to keep his number of walks down throughout his career with a 3.01 BB/9.

Another positive for LeBlanc is that he is a right handed pitcher pitching in PNC Park. With the spacious left-field that goes all the way out to 410 feet in the notch, and coupled with the fact that the Pirates have an all-star left fielder in Starling Marte, LeBlanc is going to be able to limit the number of hits he gives up with his good defense. He has already begun that transformation with the Pirates as in 12 innings of work he only gave up seven hits.

So, the Pirates have a choice to make going into arbitration this season. Stay with Locke who has been with the club for so many years or go with the veteran who has bounced around the league. If you ask me personally I would rather see LeBlanc in a Pirates uniform next season, but that is up to the Pirates organization to decide. Whichever one the Pirates decide to part ways with, it will open up some extra money for the Pirates to use in the free-agent market to acquire a veteran starting pitcher.

Pirates Comeback, But Fall In 9 Innings

The Pittsburgh Pirates came back twice to tie today's ball game but it wasn't enough as they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals by the score of 6-4. Matt Carpenter hit the walk-off home run for the Cardinals to win by the score of 6-4.

The resilient Pittsburgh Pirates offense made two comebacks coming back from being down 3-2 and 4-3 to tie the game at four in the bottom of the ninth. However, it wasn't enough as Matt Carpenter hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cardinals the 6-4 victory.

Jeff Locke started the game and pitched very effectively for the Pirates going 6.0 strong innings. He gave up three runs on the day on four hits while walking two and striking out one. Locke pitched very efficiently only throwing 89 pitches in his 6.0 innings of work.

Locke has not been very efficient in his previous starts and Today it paid dividens for the Pirates. He got bailed out by a couple of great defensive plays as well by Jordy Mercer and Starling Marte. If Locke can build on this start and stay efficient, it could mean big things for the Pirates in years to come.

The Pirates took the lead early on in this one as with nobody out in the top of the first, John Jaso singled, Andrew McCutchen doubled and Gregory Polanco followed with an RBI single that scored Jaso to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.

The Bucs would add another run after Starling Marte singled to give the Pirates runners at first and third with nobody out. Then Francisco Cervelli struck out and Jung Ho Kang hit a sacrifice fly to put the Pirates ahead 2-0 early on.

Locke didn't hold the lead for very long as the Cardinals responded right away in the bottom of the first. He loaded the bases right away as Matt Carpenter doubled followed by walks by Stephen Piscotty and Matt Holliday. Then Randal Grichuck singled in Carpenter and Piscotty to tie the game at 2-2.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the third as Piscotty hit his fifth home run of the year to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Then both offenses went quiet as pitching started to take over in this game.

Adam Wainwright pitched a good game for the Cardinals going 6.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out five batters. Wainwright missed all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon and has been struggling early on this year and is trying to fight back to his former dominant self.

The Pirates made the first of their two comebacks in the top of the seventh inning. Josh Harrison lead off the inning with a double and Jordy Mercer sacrificed him to third base with one out. Then John Jaso came through with a clutch two-out RBI single to tie the game at three.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Piscotty doubled to give the Cardinals a runner at second with one out. Then Grichuck drove in his third run of the day on an RBI single giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.

In the top of the ninth, the game looked like it was over for the Pirates as after the first two men of the inning reached McCutchen struck out and Polanco grounded into a fielders choice to give the Pirates runners at first and third with two outs.

Then Starling Marte came in with a clutch hit as he hit an RBI ground rule double to score David Freese and tie the game at four. It was the Pirates second comeback of the game as they looked to take this game in to extra innings.

However, the Cardinals put a stop to the hot quickly as in the bottom of the ninth Aledmys Diaz lead-off with a single and the next batter flew out to give the Cardinals a runner at first with one out. Then Matt Carpenter hit the game winning shot, a walk-off two-run home run, giving the Cardinals a 6-4 victory.

It was the first loss the Pirates had to the Cardinals this season and tied the series at one game a piece. The Pirates currently sit at 16-14 and are in second place in the NL Central.

The Pirates and Cardinals wrap up this three game series tomorrow afternoon at Busch Stadium. Michael Wacha (2-2 2.65) will pitch for the Cardinals and will be opposed by Gerrit Cole (2-3 3.95) for the Pirates. First pitch from Busch Stadium is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

Pirates Lose Heartbreaker in 11 Inning Loss

The Pittsburgh Pirates had their six game winning streak snapped by the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon losing 6-5. Jeff Locke turned in a strong 7.0 inning start but the bullpen couldn't hold strong in the loss.

The Pittsburgh Pirates saw their six game winning streak come to an end this afternoon as they lost to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 6-5. The game started out as a pitchers duel, but by the end of the game turned into an offensive juggernaut as each team took turns scoring on the afternoon.

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jeff Locke turned in his second consecutive quality start as he went 7.0 innings giving up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out six. Locke again showed the good control he had in his start in Colorado and it helped him on the mound once again.

Cincinnati Reds starter Tim Adleman pitched just as well in his major league debut. He ended up throwing 6.0 innings giving up three hits while walking two and striking out six. Adleman kept the potent Pirates offense at bay all afternoon. The only Pirate who could hit off of him was Gregory Polanco who went 2 for 2 against the Reds starter.

Both starters threw up zeroes through the first four innings of work before the Pirates were finally able to break through in the bottom of the fifth. Polanco got the first hit of the game for the Pirates as he sent his third home run of the season over the right field wall to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Polanco's home run was the first home run ball to hit the river since Pedro Alvarez did it in July of last season. The Pirates have been on a home run tear recently after not hitting a home run until their first game of the season. The recent power success has helped the Pirates offense get the extra boost that it needs.

The Reds responded the very next half inning as a Tucker Barnhart double and a Zack Cozart walk set the Reds up with first and second with two outs. Then Joey Votto hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game at one. The Reds added another run in the inning as after an intentional walk to Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce hit a double to right field to score both Billy Hamilton and Votto to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.

The Pirates would respond in the bottom of the seventh as After a Starling Marte single and a Polanco strikeout, Sean Rodriguez tripled into the left field corner to make the score 3-2 Reds. Then Matt Joyce delivered a pinch hit single just over the second baseman's head scoring Rodriguez and tying the game at three.

This is where the back and forth started as both teams scored in the eighth to make it 4-4 going into the ninth inning. Then the Reds scored in the top of the ninth on a Scott Schelber RBI double that scored Adam Duvall and gave the Reds a late 5-4 lead.

It looked like the game was over for the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth as Chris Stewart and Jason Rogers each got out to start the inning. Then John Jaso hit his second home run of the season to tie the game at five as they went into extra innings.

Ryan Vogelsong came into pitch the tenth for the Pirates and made the Red go 1-2-3 in the tenth, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh. He let up a leadoff triple to Eugenio Suarez and set the Reds up with a runner at third and no outs. Then Schelber burned the Pirates again as he hit a one-out RBI double to right field to put the Reds up 6-5. The Pirates were unable to score in the bottom of the inning as they lost the game.

The Pirates commuted four errors in the loss and that ended up hurting them in the end. While he had a good day at the plate, Polanco committed two costly errors in the field that cost the Pirates in the end.

The Pirates start a big three game series against the Chicago Cubs tomorrow night at PNC Park. Right hander Jason Hammel (3-0 0.75) will be on the mound for the Cubs and the Pirates will oppose with right hander Gerrit Cole (2-2 2.78). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Locke Fabulous in Pirates 6-1 Win

Jeff Locke gave the Pirates 6.0 shut out innings in yesterday's 6-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. Locke was helped out by a late inning three run bomb from Matt Joyce that put the Pirates ahead for good.

Normally, Coors Field is a launching pad for baseballs as it is one of the best hitters parks in all of the major leagues. Well last night that was not the case as both starting pitchers dominated on the mound and forced the offenses to scrap for runs. In the end, a three-run home run by Matt Joyce put the game out of reach and gave the Pirates a 6-1 victory.

Things started out great for the Pirates as Jeff Locke turned in his best start of the season so far. The left-handed three 6.0 innings of shut out ball giving up only five hits while walking two and striking out eight. The key to Locke's success was his ability to use the inside and outside corners effectively.

It appeared in the beginning of the game that the strike zone was widened by the home plate umpire. However, Locke knew what he could get called a strike and he used that to his advantage collecting a season high eight strikeouts on the night. While he still couldn't go more than six inning his effectiveness all but made up for it.

The first run of the game wasn't scored until the fifth inning when the Pirates struck first. The inning started off with Josh Harrison being hit by a pitch, followed by a Jordy Mercer single and a sacrifice bunt by Locke to set the Pirates up with second and third and one out. Then John Jaso grounded out to the second baseman allowing the first run of the game to score and giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

The Rockies would get out of the inning on the next play as Matt Joyce grounded out to end the inning. It was the first instance that the Pirates were able to break through against Rockies starter Chad Bettis, who pitched very effectively on the day.

Bettis threw 6.2 innings giving up four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three. The numbers don't look too good, but through the first five innings of this contest, he was pitching stride for stride with Locke and causing the Pirates offense a lot of trouble.

The Pirates were finally able to break through against Bettis in the seventh inning. The inning started out pretty routine for the Rockies as Gregory Polanco singled, Harrison flew out, and Mercer grounded out to set the Pirates up with a runner at third with two outs.

Then the flood gates opened for the Pirates offense.  A wild pitch scored Gregory Polanco giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead. Then Bettis walked two straight batters in Jason Rogers and Jaso giving the Pirates runners at first and second with two outs. Then the big hit happened, as Joyce launched an opposite field home run to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead. It was Joyce's second home run of the year and put the game out of reach for the Rockies.

The Rockies scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Dj LiMaheui and Chrsthian Adams singled to start the inning. Then Gerrardo Parra hit into a fielders choice that brought in LeMaheui and cut the lead to 5-1. That was the only run The Rockies could score on the night.

Rob Scahill struggled only throwing 0.2 innings giving up that one run on two hits and had to be pulled with two outs. However, AJ Schugel came into replace him and pitched very well throwing 2.1 innings giving up two hits and striking out one. Since Schugel pitched more than two of the last innings of the game he picked up his first major league save in the contest. It was really special for him because the Colorado native got the chance to pitch in front of his friends and family.

Josh Harrison singled in the last run of the game as he drove in Gregory Polanco and gave the Pirates a 6-1 lead. It was refreshing to see a great outing by a starting pitcher for the Pirates. They hadn't had a good starting pitching outing since Cole's start in the third game of the San Diego series so it was nice to get good pitching combined with a lot of offensive production.

The Pirates are back in action tonight as they play game two of the four game series tonight at 8:40 p.m. The pitching matchup will be Jorge De La Rosa (1-2 9.87) for the Rockies taking on Gerrit Cole (1-2 2.70) for the Pirates.

Pitching Struggles Have Pirates on Losing Streak

Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers have given up seven or more runs in each of the last four games causing the Pirates to be on this current four game losing streak. The home run ball has been a big part of the problem and big innings are causing the Pirates to drop key games.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently on a four game losing streak as they dropped the last three games against the Detroit Tigers and the first game against the Milawukee Brewers. Pirates pitchers have given up seven or more runs in each game and the offense has not been able to score enough runs to compensate for the runs given up by the pitchers.

The blame in the last four games has been a combined effort between both the bullpen and the starting pitching. The two bad starts of the week came from Jeff Locke last night and Juan Nicasio on Tuesday afternoon. In each start the starter went less than 5.0 innings and gave up three and four runs respectively. 

Both of these pitchers had major control issues in their starts as Nicasio walked five and Locke walked seven. The Pirates have one of the best defenses in all of major league baseball. However, when pitchers are walking a lot of batters, those defenders are not getting the chance to make the outs that are necessary in the game. Both Nicasio and Locke had very good starts their first time out and in those games they limited the number of walks they gave up. If they can work on their control it could mean a much better Pirates team.

The bullpen has had its struggles as well over the last couple games and it has not helped this team out at all. No matter who the Pirates would call into the game, it seemed like all they could do is give up runs. Kyle Lobstein has pitched in two of the last four games throwing 5.0 innings giving up five runs. Similarly, Arquiemeds Caminero has struggled as well giving up four runs in 1.2 innings pitched in the last four games.

The main problem the bullpen pitchers have been facing is the home run ball. The bullpen has combined to give up five home runs in the last four games. This was a similar problem that the Pirates faced in spring training. They gave up a mass number of home runs and it lead to some losses that could have been avoided if it were not for the home run ball.

In last nights game alone, The Pirates gave up a two home runs to the Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers. In both instances there were two outs and a runner on base and the pitch just happened to be left over the middle of the plate. If the pitchers could have just got the ball on the corner, we are talking about a whole new ball game.

Even though the Pirates are currently in a skid, there are some good things that have come out of this. Ryan Vogelsong had a very good spot start on Wednesday night for Francisco Liriano going 5.0 innings giving up one run on four hits while striking out five. Vogelsong started the year off in the bullpen and was able to step up in a big spot.

The Pirates will be able to climb out of this rough spot and will be fine moving forward. This rough spot will be a spring board for many good things to come as the season moves forward. All five of the Pirates starters have shown the ability to have success at the major league level. It is just a matter of putting it all together consistently and keeping the Pirates in ball games.

Jon Niese (1-0 5.73) will look to right the ship tonight as the Pirates take on the Brewers for game two of a three game series tonight at PNC Park. He will be opposed on the mound by Brewer's righty Taylor Jungman (0-1 11.57).  First pitch for tonight's game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Locke Good, Offense Not Enough as Pirates Fall to the Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on a walk-off triple by Jay Bruce that scored Brandon Phillips. Jeff Locke threw 6.0 good innings of work, but could not get the offense he needed to back him up.

For the second straight day, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense fell flat at Great American Ball Park as they fell to the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates again could not take advantage of key opportunities with runners on base. In total the Pirates left 14 men stranded on the day including a bases loaded situation in the first inning.

Jeff Locke started the game and pitched pretty well in his season debut. In total he went 6.0 innings giving up one run on seven hits while walking two and striking out one. Locke was the beneficiary of some great defensive plays as well as David Freese made several diving stops on the day and robbed more than one player of hits today.

For the Reds, Tim Melville was making his major league debut. The Pirates took advantage of the rookie early on in the game. Jon Jaso and Andrew McCutchen both walked to make it first and second with nobody out. However, the Pirates could not take advantage of the opportunity, however, as Freese lined out and Starling Marte struck out. Gregory Polanco drew a two out walk, but Josh Harrison finished the inning by grounding out to short stop.

This was the formula for the day as the Pirates got on base, but struggle to drive guys in when it counted. Today they left 14 runners in scoring position and only mustered one run on the day. The Pirates were one or two hits away from winning this ball game, but it was not meant to be as the Pirates just could not get it done with runners in scoring position.

The Pirates did draw first blood in the contest in the top of the second. Back-up catcher Chris Stewart stepped up with one out and drove a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and his first as a Pirate. Stewart had not hit a home run since August of 2013 and recieved the silent treatment when he reached the Pirates dugout.

Stewart has been a solid back-up catcher for the Pirates over the last couple of seasons. Stewart is known mostly for his defense due to his .989 career fielding percentage behind the plate. However, since joining the Pirates, Stewart has broke out at the plate. He set a career high in average two seasons ago by batting .294, and added to the average total last season hitting .289.

Stewart has never been a power guy throughout his career as today's home run was only the eighth of his career. As a back-up, however, he is a very reliable guy and a great guy to have in the clubhouse. He signed a two-year extension with the Pirates during the off-season and will continue to be that reliable guy behind the plate whenever the opportunity presents himself.

The Reds responded in the bottom of the sixth as Eugenio Suarez hit his fourth home run of the season tying the game at one. Suarez has been hitting the ball well this season as he currently has a .368 average with four home runs and eight RBI in six game played. He was one of the key players for the Reds this weekend against the Pirates going 6 for 11 with two home runs and four RBI. 

The game would remained tied at one as Locke exited the game and it was turned over to the Pirates bullpen. Neftali Feliz was first out of the pen and, as he has done all year, threw a perfect inning of work while striking out one batter. Feliz has been a great pickup for the Pirates so far on the young season. He has been a key cog in this bullpen that has given up very few runs this season.

Tony Watson pitched the eighth giving up only one hit in his 1.0 inning of work. Watson has given up some hits this season, but has been able to work out of tough situations and keep the opposing team off of the board. Feliz, Watson, and Mark Melancon have done a nice job early on coming out of the bullpen and shutting the door for the Pirates. If they can continue to do that throughout the season, the Pirates will be in very good shape moving forward.

Arquimedes Caminero came into pitch the ninth inning for the Pirates with the score tied at 1-1. Brandon Phillips, another Pirate killer this series, started things off with a lead-off single on a 0-2 pitch to set-up shop for the Reds. Devin Mesoraco was next and he popped up on a 2-0 pitch to Josh Harrison for the first out.

Then, Jay Bruce stepped up with Phillips on first and one out. On the day, Bruce was 1 for 3 to this point and had been held at bay. Caminero had him down in the count 2-2, but Bruce took the next pitch and lined it down the right field line and into the corner. Phillips was able to score from first base and give the Reds the walk-off win.

With the loss, the Pirates drop this series against the Reds losing two out of three games. The Reds owned the Pirates last season, especially at Great American Ball Park where the Pirates were 4-6 last season. Moving forward, the Pirates have to find a way to win these division games so they can take the next step and possibly win the division in 2016.

The Pirates return to the field tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan to take on the Detroit Tigers. With the postponement today, the Tigers will have Justin Verlander (0-0 4.50) on the mound. Last time out against the Miami Marlins, Verlander went 6.0 innings giving up three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out five. The Pirates will oppose with left-hander Jon Niese (0-0 7.20). Niese struggled last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals throwing 5.0 innings giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits while striking out seven and walking one. First pitch from Comerica Park is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.

Outfield Homers as Pirates Defeat Orioles

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 6-5 yesterday. They were lead by home runs from Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. Jeff Locke threw 5.0 innings in the start

The Pittsburgh Pirates took on the Baltimore Orioles yesterday and emerged victorious winning 6-5. The home run ball was a major factor as the Pirates hit three on the day in the one point victory. The battle for the fifth spot continued as Jeff Locke took the mound for the Pirates in hopes of gaining the trust of manager Clint Hurdle.

Locke had an ok outing throwing 5.0 innings giving up three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Locke has struggled for the majority of spring training with only a few good starts here and there. He is in a contest with Ryan Vogelsong and Juan Nicasio for the last two spots in the Pirates rotation.

Locke currently has a 6.63 ERA over the spring giving up 14 earned runs in 19.0 innings pitched. Overall, his outings this spring have not been that good. In his five spring outings he has given up four, zero, two, five, and three runs. His shut out against the Phillies and his two-run game were his best outing of the spring. When Locke gives up a lot of hits, it causes trouble for him. In the two good games this spring he has given up two hits a piece. In the games in which he gave up three runs or more he has given up four plus hits.

Looking at the current field for the fifth starter spot, Locke's chances look to be dwindling. Nicasio has yet to give up a run this spring and Vogelsong has a 4.00 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched. As the field stands right now, it looks like Locke is the odd man out. His performance has not been up to par and it has effected his status in spring training.

The back-end of the bullpen was up next as Mark Melancon and Tony Watson each threw a scoreless inning of work. Melancon gave up no hits and struck out one while Watson gave up one hit and struck out two. Both pitchers were efficient and got the necessary work in for the game. They are both very reliable pitchers and will help the Pirates succeed this season.

The Pirates bullpen is something I am very high on this year. Along with Melancon and Watson at the back-end, you also add Neftali Feliz who has closer experience. This essentially gives the Pirates three closers at the end of the game. If the starting pitchers can do enough to keep the team in ballgames and the offense can score just enough runs, the game could be over by inning number seven with these three pitching in the later part of games.

Having these three also gives the Pirates some flexibility at the closer position. If Melancon has pitched too many days in a row, you can always turn to Watson or Feliz and have a very capable pitcher closing out games. While this might take away from Melancon's save numbers, it will save the Pirates in the long-run because Melancon will be well rested and more effective on the mound.

Up next, it was Cory Luebke in his third spring training appearance since coming back from, elbow surgery. He struggled today throwing 1.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out two batters. Luebke has given up three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work this spring. He is trying to revitalize his career with Pittsburgh after not pitching in the league since the 2012 season.

Once regarded as a top prospect in the Padres minor league system, Luebke has had some success at the major league level. In his career he is 4-3 with a 5.16 ERA and 53 strikeouts. Luebke is a strike out pitcher and has used that to his advantage in past seasons. He will more than likely start the 2016 season with Triple A Indianapolis to finish rehabbing his elbow. After that we could see him as a spot starter during the regular season for Pittsburgh.

Rob Scahill got the final out for the Pirates as he threw 0.1 innings giving up one hit and getting Drew Dosch to ground out to Josh Harrison to end the game. Scahill is also competing for a spot in the middle of the Pirates bullpen after pitching their last season.

Overall, I was impressed with the Pirates pitching this afternoon. Locke struggled on the mound again, but the bullpen came through for the Pirates and held the Orioles at bay. A positive from yesterday's game is that the home run ball was a non-factor. That has been troubling the Pirates for the entirety of spring training. It was nice to see the ball stay in the ball park tonight.

On the offensive side, the Pirates were lead by three home runs from Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. The starters played most of the day for the Pirates and as spring training is winding down that's a good thing to see. For a small ball type team, the power really shined through and it was just enough for the Pirates to take this one.

The offensive star in this game was Gregory Polanco as he went 2 for 4 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Polanco has struggled at time during spring training as he is currently hitting just .237 with one home run and one RBI. Polanco had an up and down season last year as well and he cannot let that effect him in 2016.

Polanco is a key player for the Pirates this season. Last year he hit .256 with nine home runs and 52 RBI. If Polanco is able to break out this season, the Pirates could have one of the best outfields in all of major league baseball. Polanco has struggled against left handed pitching throughout his career and that is something he needs to work on in 2016. The Pirates do have a back up option in Michael Morse if Polanco continues to struggle. However, this season will be a big one in determining what the Pirates should do in terms of long term action with Polanco.

Francisco Cirvelli shined today as well also going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Currently hitting .280 on the spring, Cirvelli is looking for another big year behind the plate for the Pirates. He will be key to keeping the pitching staff on track and keeping the Pirates in ball games. Cirvelli has proved to be the heart and sole of this team in the past and needs to continue that here in 2016.

New comer David Freese also had a good day going 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored on the afternoon. The second half to the Pirates first base platoon, Freese is looking for a good year with Pittsburgh. He had success against the Pirates while playing for the Cardinals and is looking to transfer that success to Pittsburgh. In the beginning of the season he will be used at third base until Jung Ho Kang returns from injury.

Today the Pirates travel to Ed Smith Stadium to take on the Baltimore Orioles again. The Orioles will be sending right hander Trevor Wilson (0-0 2.89) to the mound. The Pirates will counter with Jon Niese (0-2 14.40) making his third appearance of the spring. First pitch for today's game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

McCutchen rakes, Locke Struggles in Pirates Loss to the Yankees

Andrew McCutchen hit his third spring training home run, but Locke struggles mightily as the Pirates lost to the New York Yankees today by the final score of 7-2 at McKechnie Field.

After a fantastic start from Juan Nicasio yesterday, it was Jeff Locke's turn to step-up and prove he deserves the fifth starters spot. However, Locke struggled mightily in today's Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 loss. Locke's inconsistency bit him in the butt again after a decent start his last time out where he threw 4.0 innings giving up two runs.

Today he was hit and hit hard as he threw 5.0 innings giving up 6 hits while walking two and striking out two. Locke needed a strong start today to save his chances at becoming the Pirates fifth starter, but his outing today might have hurt those chances. Locke has been an inconsistent pitcher throughout his major league career and that trend has continued this spring.

Of Locke's four outings this spring, He has two really good outings and two really bad outings. In the too good starts he only gave up two hits, but when he struggled he gave up four or more hits. Locke has to limit the number of hits he gives up throughout the season if he wants any shot at being successful at the major league level. Personally, I think he has very little chance at being the fifth starter, and if he continues this he might be out of the Pirates bullpen very quickly.

Mark Melancon came into the game next and had a very clean inning only giving up one hit and striking out one. Melancon set the single season save record for the Pirates last season and looks to be a dominant closer once again this season. So far, in limited spring action, he has looked solid and in mid-season form. It will be a big bonus for the Pirates to have a reliable arm closing out games for the Pirates in 2016.

Eric O'Flaherty came in next and struggled in his one inning of work. He gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits on the afternoon. O'Flaherty's spring ERA sits at 3.00, which is pretty respectable. O'Flaherty is currently fighting for a spot in the middle of the Pirates bullpen trying to revitalize his career. O'Flaherty has showed a lot of promise so far and has gone a long way to solidifying a role on this Pirates team. It may not be from the start of the season, but he will help this team at some point in 2016.

Non-roster invitee AJ Schugel came in next and threw 1.0 inning giving up one hit. Schugel was followed by Cory Luebke, who was making his first spring appearance. Luebke threw 1.0 inning giving up no hits and walking one. Luebke is coming back from a left elbow injury and is looking to get back on course with the Pirates.

At one point, he was regarded as one of the top prospects in major league baseball. However, the last time he pitched in the MLB was during the 2012 season when he went 3-1 in five games pitched with a 2.61 ERA. Another lefty option for the Pirates, Luebke looks to work with pitching guru Ray Searage to get back to his top prospect status.

Overall, today's game was the complete opposite of yesterday's contest. Locke struggled mightily in his start on the mound. Then the bullpen came in and pitched pretty well. In the end the offense was not enough to get past the Yankees. The Pirates scored early off of Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, but couldn't get anything else going on the afternoon.

Andrew McCutchen got the scoring started hitting his third home run of the spring in inning number one. McCutchen finished the day going 1 for 3 with that home run and one RBI. McCutchen has had a great spring training so far hitting .273 with those three home runs. Unlike last season's struggles, McCutchen has been hot this spring and hopefully those numbers can transfer over to the regular season and he can lead the Pirates into victory.

John Jaso also had a good day for the Bucs going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Jaso is currently hitting .294 on the spring, and is working hard at the first base position. If Jaso can be a decent defensive player and produce on offense, he will be an upgrade over Pedro Alvarez at the position. While Jaso doesnt posses the power that Alvarez had, he has the ability to work the gaps and that will be a big plus for the Pirates this season.

David Freese made his Pirates debut today and went 1 for 2 on the day. Last year, Freese hit .257 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Freese is a proven veteran bat and that will be key for the Pirates to have off of the bench this season. Freese provides insurance at first base and third base and could prove a key piece for the Pirates this season.

Overall, relief pitching did well today, but the bad start put a damper on things for the Pirates. On the offensive side, the team collected eight hits and only scored two runs. They left 15 men on base during the afternoon. This is a stat the Pirates need to work on this season. With a lack of power, driving guys in becomes more and more of a key and that is something the Pirates need to do this season.

The Pirates are back in action tomorrow as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 p.m. The Pirates will be facing a familiar foe as the Phillies send out Charlie Morton who in his only appearance of the spring pitched 2.1 innings and giving up one run on one hit while striking out two. The Pirates will send Gerrit Cole to the mound, who is also making his second appearance of the spring. His last time out Cole pitched 2.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out a batter. 

Battle for the Fifth Starter Spot Heating Up for Pirates

Kyle Lobstein, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Locke are all battling it out for a chance to be the fifth starter in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation. Each has shown signs of success and it has made for a heated battle so far in spring training.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, four fifths of the 2016 starting rotation have been set. Francisco Liriano will start things off on Opening Day followed by Gerrit Cole, John Niese, and Ryan Vogelsong. The one question that remains is who will round out the starting five for the Pirates. As Spring Training has moved forward, there are three candidates who are currently the front runners for the position.

Kyle Lobstein, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Locke have been battling it out to earn the right to be the fifth starter in the rotation. Each has shown signs that they can handle the role, making for a heated battle. Last season, Locke was the fifth starter and struggled mightily going 9-11 with a 4.59 ERA. The Pirates will be looking for a more dependable option going into 2016.

The key to being a fifth starter is keeping your team in the ball game and throwing as many innings as you can. The Pirates have one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball, but it means nothing if they are forced to work more than they have to during the course of the regular season. The fifth starter needs to be someone who can throw a lot of innings and keep the Pirates in the ball game when they are on the mound.

As stated before, Locke was the fifth starter for the Bucs last season and struggled mightily. So far in his first three spring training starts, the numbers have not been too kind to him either. He has a record of 0-1 and is pitching to a 6.00 ERA giving up six earned runs in 9.0 innings pitched. He has also struck out six batters and walked two over the course of those 9.0 innings.

The positive that sticks out for Locke is the strikeout to walk ratio. He is currently sitting at six strikeouts to only two walks giving him a 3.00 Strikeout per walk ratio. This is a pretty good number for Locke considering last season that ratio was down to 2.16. It will be key for Locke to be able to keep his strikeout numbers up while keeping his walk numbers low.

The thing I dont like from Locke is the number of hits he has given up so far. In those 9.0 innings of work, he has given up eight hits. For a starting pitcher, you have to limit the number of hits you give up so that your pitch count doesnt get too high. Pitch count is everything now a days and if you are giving up a bunch of hits, it doesnt allow you to be able to go deep into ball games, which is something the Pirates need from their fifth starter this year.

Last time out, Locke had a pretty strong showing against the Detroit Tigers throwing 4.0 innings giving up only two runs on two hits while striking out five and walking one. It was nice too see Locke only giving up those two hits in four innings of work and seeing the five strikeouts. Locke has been known for his inconsistency in the past, so we will see if those demons come back to bite him as spring training starts to wrap up.

Nicasio, who came over in free agency from the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been very impressive so far in spring training. He has appeared in three games and he has no record throwing 6.0 innings and giving up no runs while striking out six and walking three batters. He has yet to give up his first earned run in Spring Training which is a good sign moving forward.

It is nice to see the strikeout numbers being at one per inning for Nicasio. Not really known as a strikeout pitcher over the course of his career, only striking out 100 or more batters once, Nicasio has been getting a lot of swings and misses early on in spring training. His six strikeouts to three walks ratio sits exactly where Locke's sits at the nice 3.00.

Again a problem with Nicasio is the number of hits he has given up. He has given up four hits in his 6.0 innings of work. While not as bad as Locke, that number needs to greatly improve. Pitchers will start to fatigue if they give up too many hits and that is something the Pirates fifth starter cannot do. If Nicasio can limit his hits to about 6.0/2 ratio rather than a 6.0/4 ratio he could be set for a successful 2016 campaign.

Nicasio's last start was a strong one as well against the Tampa Bay Rays when he threw 3.0 innings giving up no runs while walking one and striking out three. Again he gave up the three hits in the three innings of work, but overall it was a good performance. Nicasio has the most experience out of the three hopefuls and that could play a factor in the selection process.

Lobstein rounds out the group of hopefuls, and like Nicasio, has yet to give up a run during the 2016 spring training. He has pitched to a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA while striking out four while walking three. Lobstein is the youngest of the group of hopefuls and hopes that his inexperience doesnt get in the way of his chance to be the fifth starter.

Lobstein has shown the ability to work out of trouble early on in spring training. He has been faced with many situations with runners on base in close ball games and has been able to get out of them uscaved. While you do not want to be in these situations as a starter, it is a plus to be able to get out of them. He has allowed six people to reach base so far this spring in 4.0 innings of work and has been able to strand all of them. This will be key if things start to look bad for Lobstein in a game.

One thing I do not like about Lobstein is the number of batters he has walked. In his 4.0 innings of work this spring, he has walked 3 batters. When your walks start to get up to the number of innings you throw that is not very good. Lobstein has some control issues he needs to work out, but if he can contain those issues he could be a big pick up for the Pirates in 2016.

Lobstein's last time out was yesterday against the Boston Red Sox when he came in relief of starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. In that game he threw 1.0 inning giving up two hits while walking one and striking out two. His only start of the spring thus far has been in the first spring training game against the Detroit Tigers when he went 2.0 innings giving up no runs, striking out one and walking two. 

Out of the three candidates for that fifth starter job, I feel Nicasio should be the guy this season. He has the most experience out of the three and is having the best spring training to this point. Nicasio has impressed me with his strikeout ability and the ability to keep his walks down. While he still needs to work on the amount of hits he gives up, that can work itself out as the season progresses.

I feel that both Lobstein and Locke will still make the Pirates roster and will both be available out of the bullpen in a long relief role. It is always good to have a multitude of lefties in the bullpen and with both Lobstein and Locke being lefties, it offers the Pirates many options out of their bullpen to face the tough left handed batters.

The battle for this fifth spot will rage on tomorrow as Nicasio takes the mound for the Pirates as they take on Kevin Gausman and the Baltimore Orioles in a game that has first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Offense Shut Down as Pirates Are Sunk By Tigers

The Pittsburgh Pirates offense was shut out today as they lost to the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 3-0 as their record falls to 3-8 on the Grapefruit League season.

The Pirates pitchers performed pretty well on the mound today, but the Pirates offense was held in check as the Pirates fell 3-0 to the Detroit Tigers. Some key contributors to the Pirates offense strated to heat up but it was not enough to defeat Mike Pelfrey and the Tigers.

The long battle for the fifth starter spot continued as Jeff Locke took the hill for the Pirates. In his last spring outing Locke performed well pitching 3 innings of scoreless baseball while only allowing two hits on the day. The outing before that was a nightmare as he went 2 innings giving up four runs against the Tigers.

This time out, he continued his hot streak as he had an overall solid outing. He pitched 4.0 innings giving up two runs on  two hits while striking out five and walking one. The strike out numbers were a good thing to see for Locke in today's outing. If Locke can improve upon his 2015 strikeout numbers it could go a long way to making him the solid back-end of the rotation pitcher that the Pirates desperately need.

Locke had a slow start to the fifth starter spot race but recently has turned it on. He is in a battle with Kyle Lobstein and Juan Nicasio to see who will round out the starting rotation. Locke came into spring training the likely candidate for the job. However, with the performances of Lobstein and Nicasio so far, Locke is going to have to have a couple of great outings if he wants to remain the fifth starter for the Pirates.

After Locke, a pair of candidates for the 2016 Pirates bullpen entered the game in John Holdzkum and Eric O'Flaherty. Each performed well today and helped their case to be a part of the 2016 shark tank for Pittsburgh.

Holdzkum threw one inning of perfect baseball retiring the side 1-2-3. Ever since his shaky outing in the beginning of spring against Toronto where he gave up three runs in just 0.2 innings pitched, Holdzkum has been solid for the Pirates. Fighting his way back from injury, Holdzkum looks to be a solid option for the Pirates in the middle of their bullpen.

O'Flaherty also had a strong outing giving up no runs on one hit while walking one in his 1.0 inning of work. So far this spring, O'Flaherty has been performing well for the Pirates only giving up one earned run in his four outings. His only real rough spot came in his first outing when he gave up 5 runs, only one earned, and walked one batter. O'Flaherty is looking to revitalize his career with Pittsburgh after a down 2015 season. So far in spring training, he is making a strong case for a spot in the 2016 Pirates bullpen.

Two non-roster invitees finished out the game as Jorge Rondon threw a scoreless inning only giving up one hit and Curtis Partch gave up one run on two hits while walking two and striking out one in his 1.0 inning of work. For the most part the Pirates pitching did very well this afternoon, however the offense could not do anything as the Pirates suffered the loss.

While the offense was not able to score any runs today, there were some positives on the day. Some of the key offensive players for the Pirates performed well at the plate and are starting to get hot over the course of spring training. These minor victories will be key to the Pirates moving forward.

Michael Morse has been working a lot in right field recently and performed well in today's game going 1 for 2 with a walk on the day. With the log jam of first baseman the Pirates currently posses, it will be key for a guy like Morse to learn multiple positions so that he can be useful for the Pirates. Morse does have the ability to play the corner outfield positions and can be used there on his off days from playing first base.

The addition of David Freese also makes it vital for for Morse to be able to play multiple positions. Freese provides a veteran infielder to back up the corner positions. If Freese has success it could mean that Morse gets moved to the outfield to help with depth at that position. Either way, he will be a key platoon piece for the Pirates to use throughout the season.

Another player who performed well today was Chris Stewart. Stewart went 2 for 3 today with two singles increasing his spring average to .300. Stewart will be used to back-up Francisco Cervelli this season and could see some time catching Gerrit Cole. Last season, Cole collected 14 of his 19 wins with Stewart behind the plate. That match will continue in 2016 and could see the Pirates all the way to the 2016 playoffs.

Pedro Florimon continued his spring training success as he went 1 for 2 today increasing his average to .313. With the addition of Freese, it is looking less likely that Florimon could make the roster. However, if he keeps performing well he could find his way with the big league club at some point during the 2016 season. Josh Bell also had a good day at the plate getting one hit in his only at bat of the night.

Don't let the current spring training record fool you, there have been a lot of positives for the Pirates over the course of spring training. we have seen guys like Florimon and Lobstein perform well while doing what they can for the team. There is still a lot of work to be done, but with opening day still 22 days away, the Pirates have some time to work out the cincks that are present in their 2016 roster.

The Pirates are back in action tomorrow as they once again take on the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers will send lefty Matt Boyd to the mound. He comes into the game with a 1-0 record so far in spring training with a 1.80 ERA. For Pittsburgh, it will be the spring training debut of ace Gerritt Cole. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida.

Locke/O'Flaherty Struggle in Pirates Loss to Tigers

Jeff Locke gave up four runs and Eric O'Flaherty gave up five runs in the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

After taking the first spring training game from the Detroit Tigers yesterday, the Pirates fell to the Tigers today by the final score of 10-3. Jeff Locke started the game for Pittsburgh and struggled mightily. The offense could not get anything going and right hander Buck Farmer along with the rest of the Tiger pitchers shut down the Pirates.

While the starting pitching struggled in this game, the relief pitchers pitched very well for the most part. Many of the Pirates potential 2016 key bullpen contributors pitched in the game and for the most part did very well. This is a good sign as the starting pitching is whats in question for the upcoming 2016 season.

Locke started the game and struggled giving up four runs on four hits while walking one in 2.0 innings of work. Locke gave up three straight hits to start the game and gave up an RBI double to Jose Iglesias followed by an RBI single for Nick Castellanos to make the score 2-0 Tigers. The Tigers would add two more to start out the game with a 4-0 lead. Locke settled down in inning number two and did not allow any runs.

Locke, who struggled mightily last season with a 9-11 record, struggled again in his first spring outing in 2016. He is fighting Kyle Lobstein, who had a great start yesterday, for the fifth starter spot in the rotation. Today Locke just gave up too many hits and it all seemed to snow ball on him in inning number one.

However, after Locke the next three innings were clean as AJ Schugel, Juan Nicasio, and Mark Melancon each threw scoreless innings. Schugel gave up only one hit and struck out one, Nicasio walked two and struck out one, and Melancon retired the side in order in the fifth. Nicasio and Melancon are both making cases for the Pirates 2016 bullpen.

Many Pirates fans, including myself, thought Melancon was going to leave during the off-season. However, he is back in a Pirates uniform and, at least in his first outing, looked pretty sharp on the mound. Having him be a consistent closer for the Pirates is essential for the Pirates to contend in 2016.

Up next Jared Hughes gave up one run, a solo home run to Jared Saltalamacchia, on two hits in his one inning of work. He was followed by Arquimedes Caminero who had a 1-2-3 top of the seventh striking out two of the three batters he faced. Both of these guys will be slated in the middle of the Pirates bullpen and look to contribute in 2016.

Non-roster invitee Eric O'Flaherty followed and struggled in his first spring training outing with the Pirates. He gave up five runs on three hits while hitting a batter and walking one in his one inning of work. The fortunate thing for O'Flaherty is that none of the runs he gave up were earned as an error by Gift Ngeope helped the Tigers get a rally going. O'Flaherty was very wild in his debut and will need to work on that as spring training progresses.

The game was finished out by two non-roster invitees as Jorge Rondon threw 0.2 innings striking out two and walking one, and Daniel Bard through 0.1 innings and got his only batter faced out on one pitch.

Besides a couple of rough outings, the pitching in general was decent today. Take out the efforts of Locke and O'Flaherty and its a whole new ball game. Going forward Locke and O'Flaherty both have to be more efficient in their pitches and they cannot let innings snowball on them like what happened today.

On the offensive side, we saw a lot of Pittsburgh's regular starters in the lineup including Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco, John Jaso, and Starling Marte. The offense was pretty much shut down by the Tigers pitching staff especially early on in the game.

Marte had a good day at the plate going 1 for 2 with a run scored hitting out of the fifth spot in the lineup. Marte had a break-out year last season in terms of home runs and RBI and looks to continue to contribute to the Pirates in 2016. The key for Marte will be limiting the number of strike outs this season as he has struck out over 100 times in each of his major league seasons.

Another batter who performed well today is Sean Rodriguez. Rodriguez went 1 for 2 on the day with a single in the second inning. Rodriguez is fighting for a spot on the Pirates bench where he can be used as the super utility man in 2016. His ability to play multiple positions will help increase his value to the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates scored their first run of the day on a fielders choice by Josh Bell that allowed Rodriguez to score. The Pirates were shut down until the ninth inning when RBIs by Ngeope and Adam Frazier added the final two runs on the day for the Pirates.

Frazier again stood out for the minor leaguers as he went 1 for 1 with an RBI and a walk. Frazier has had a strong showing in his first two games for the Pirates here in spring training getting hits in 2 of his first three at bats. A guy who was not on anybody's radar coming into spring training could be moving his way up the latter in the Pirates system.

Even though the Pirates fell today, there were still some positives to come out of this game. Melancon, Nicasio, and Caminero all performed well out of the bullpen in their first spring training actions, and Hughes was haunted by one bad pitch in his outing but otherwise performed very well. On the offensive side, some of the starters got their first look at live pitches today and can build off of that as the spring goes on.

Tomorrow, the Pirates will be back in action at McKechnie field as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays. The Toronto Blue Jays will be sending right hander Gavin Floyd to the mound while the Pirates have yet to name their starter for the game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.