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Happy Opening Day, Pittsburgh Pirates Fans!
Ladies and gentlemen the start of the Major League Baseball season is upon us – hallelujah!
At 1:10 this afternoon Jordan Zimmermann will take the mound at Comerica Park in Detroit. He will then fire a pitch to Adam Frazier, and with that the 2018 regular season will be underway for both the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 137th edition of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club will be one of transition. Gone are players like Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, and now the likes of Felipe Rivero, Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell, and Starling Marte are the new leaders of the Pirate franchise.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a 75-87 season. This marked their second consecutive losing season after three consecutive postseason appearances.
As the team looks to shock the baseball world and return to the postseason, they will start by using this lineup today in Detroit:
- Adam Frazier – DH
- Josh Harrison – 2B
- Gregory Polanco – RF
- Josh Bell – 1B
- Corey Dickerson – LF
- Starling Marte – CF
- Francisco Cervelli – C
- Colin Moran – 3B
- Jordy Mercer – SS
This is a lineup that, on paper at least, looks like it can be one of the best in the National League. With their mix on high on-base players and good power, the Pittsburgh Pirates should not struggle to score runs this season.
Taking the mound for the Pirates today will be Ivan Nova. While anyone who reads my work knows I am not high on Nova, maybe he will recapture the magic he had from August 2016 – April 2017 instead of being the pitcher he’s been the rest of his career this season.
Next: Pirate mailbag: March 28, 2018
Regardless of what the 2018 season holds for the Pittsburgh Pirates, today is Opening Day. Today, hope springs eternal and the team is on even footing with the rest of the National League. Today, the wild ride that is the Major League Baseball season begins. Buckle up, everyone!
Let’s go Bucs!