Blogs

The Pirates open their final homestand of the season tonight with a 7:05 start against the Houston Astros at PNC Park. Steve Pearce, who has hit safely in seven of his past eight starts and has a homer in three lifetime at-bats against Astros starter Randy Wolf (4-2, 4.26), gets the nod in right field. [...]

Jack Wilson realizes the roster upheaval that began when the new front office group took over a year ago will continue this offseason. And he’s heard the whispers that say he might be traded. With 10 games left in the season, Sunday might be the final time Wilson plays for the home team at PNC [...]

The Pirates today announced they’ve signed a two-year agreement with the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League. Charleston replaces Hickory as the team’s low-A affiliate. Charleston was the Pirates’ Triple-A team from 1971-76. Jack Wilson (broken right index finger) took a couple dozen swings on the field today during pregame batting [...]

Pirates right-hander Jeff Karstens (2-5, 4.46 ERA), who has lost his past five decisions, will meet Derek Lowe (13-11. 3.48 ERA) at 7:05 p.m. at PNC Park in the second game of the three-game series with the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. Adam LaRoche, who is 1 for 11 lifetime against Lowe (the one hit was [...]

The Pirates will try to extend their winning streak to four games, which would equal their second-longest of the season, when they play the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:05 tonight at PNC Park in the opener of a four-game series. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf (0-1, 8.10 ERA) will make his third start since being [...]

The Pirate today are trying for what would be their fourth series sweep of the season. The other three came against the Astros (July 21-23), Giants (May 6-8) and Reds (April 11-13). The Pirates have swept the Cardinals twice at home since PNC Park opened in 2001. The Pirates have won three games since reeling [...]

With Jeff Karstens still recovering from a dental procedure to fix an abscessed tooth, Ian Snell (6-11, 5.54 ERA) will make the start tonight when the Pirates play the Cardinals at 7:05 at PNC Park. Freddy Sanchez is back in the lineup after missing the past three games with blurred vision. Adam Wainwright (9-3, 2.85 [...]

Manager John Russell announced this afternoon that left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (6-9, 6.66) won’t pitch again this year, bothered by a sprained middle finger on his left hand. Jimmy Barthmeier, who was heading to Pittsburgh anyway to spend three days getting acquainted with the big-league team, will take Gorzelanny’s spot in the rotation. Here are the [...]

HOUSTON — Manager John Russell this afternoon said the Pirates may stick with a six-man starting rotation, even if Tom Gorzelanny is done for the season. Gorzelanny left last night’s game in the third inning after his left middle finger “popped” after he threw a slider. Russell suggested there could be ligament damage, which would [...]

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros’ radio announcers were flummoxed for a moment Tuesday night when Pirates closer Matt Capps came in to pitch in the ninth inning of a 9-3 game. “Well, I guess they put him out there to keep him sharp for the one or two times they’ll need him the rest of [...]