Pittsburgh Pirates Set Weekend Rotation

This weekend the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Milwaukee Brewers for three games. Yesterday, manager Clint Hurdle set the rotation for the weekend.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently 67-64 overall. Due to this record, the Pirates are two and a half games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card spot. This weekend, the Pirates will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to PNC Park.

This weekend will be a critical series for the Pirates. After being swept by the Chicago Cubs this week, they need a big bounce back series. And the Brewers are a good opponent for that.

The Milwaukee Brewers are just 57-76 on the season. Due to this record, they are next to last in the National League Central division. Furthermore, the Pirates swept the Brewers at Miller Park last weekend.

The Pittsburgh Pirates set their starting rotation for this series yesterday. On Friday night the Pirates will start Jameson Taillon, on Saturday it will be Ivan Nova, and on Sunday it will be Steven Brault. Taillon and Nova have both pitched great for the Pirates all season long. As for Brault, Sunday will be just his fourth career start

The Pirates recently optioned Taillon and Brault to their short season Bristol associate earlier this week. Adam Frazier was also optioned to Bristol. However, Bristol’s season ends today. Due to this, all three of these players can return to the Pirates tomorrow without having to spend ten days in the Minor Leagues. I also expect Adam Frazier to be recalled on Friday.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates need to win this weekend’s series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Like always in baseball this series will, most likely, come down to starting pitching. So it is up to Jameson Taillon, Ivan Nova, and Steven Brault to help make sure that happens.