Pittsburgh Pirates: Grapefruit League Game 29

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Minnesota Twins at 6:05 PM tonight in the 29th game of their Grapefruit League season.

One week from today the Pittsburgh Pirates will begin their 2017 regular season. However, they still have five more Grapefruit League games to go before then. That includes tonight’s game against the Minnesota Twins.

At 6:05 PM tonight the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins will paly at LECOM Park in Bradenton. In addition to being on the Pirates’ Radio Network, tonight’s game will also be telecast on ROOT Sports.

Right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova will start for the Pirates tonight. This will be his final Grapefruit League start. He will, however, throw in another game at minor league camp before his regular season debut against the Atlanta Braves on April 7th.

The Pirates are looking for Ivan Nova to pitch six innings and/or 100 pitches tonight. He will be followed by a pair of left-handed relief pitchers. These pitchers will be Felipe Rivero and Tyler Webb.

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This season Felipe Rivero will be a big part of the Pirate bullpen. In fact, a strong argument can be made that he is the team’s best reliever. Tyler Webb is a Rule 5 Draft selection who will be returned to the New York Yankees if he does not make the team. It would be a surprise to see Webb make the club.

As for Minnesota, they will start right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes tonight. Buddy Boshers (LHP), Michael Tonkin (RHP), and J.T. Chargois (RHP) are all scheduled to pitch for the Twins as well. Boshers and Tonkin both project to be big parts of the Minnesota bullpen in 2017.

Two other Pirate pitchers will pitch today. Chad Kuhl and Antonio Bastardo will both pitch in a minor league game at Pirate City this afternoon. Kuhl is scheduled to throw 100 pitches, and Bastardo is scheduled for whatever comes first one inning or 15 pitches.

Next: Notes From The Neal Huntington Show (3/26)

Check back with Rum Bunter later in the day for the lineups for tonight’s game between the Pirates and Twins.