Altoona Curve Clinch Fourth Consecutive Postseason Berth

The Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates are headed to the postseason yet again

For a fourth consecutive season the Altoona Curve are headed to the postseason. Following a 3-0 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Sunday evening, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates clinched a postseason berth.

While the Curve are the defending Easter League Champions, making the postseason was no slam dunk. Due to players such as Brandon Waddell, J.T. Brubaker, Mitch Keller, and Jason Martin getting promoted to Triple-A, the Curve roster was gutted earlier this season.

On August 1st, the Curve were seven games behind the first place Akron Rubberducks in the Eastern League Western Division standings. Now, they find themselves in first place with a 74-56 record and their postseason ticket punched with eight games remaining in the regular season.

As the Curve look to capture their second consecutive Eastern League Championship, and third in franchise history, they will be led by the Pirates’ top hitting prospect in third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Shortstop Cole Tucker, outfielder Bryan Reynolds, and first baseman Will Craig are all key cogs in the Altoona offense as well.

Despite the Triple-A call-ups, the Curve still have a strong starting rotation which will give them an excellent shot at repeating as EL Champions.

Dario Agrazal has shown why the Pirates protected him from the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason by posting a 2.74 ERA and a 3.46 FIP in 13 starts this season. 2015 draft member James Marvel has been *lowers shades* marvelous since being promoted to Altoona last month. In four starts for the Curve the righty has allowed just seven earned runs on 21 hits, eight walks, and 19 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.

Eduardo Vera has also pitched his way into being an intriguing prospect by allowing just 18 earned runs in his last 10 starts (58 1/3 innings pitched). This includes firing 7 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday evening.

While the Pittsburgh Pirates will not be returning to the postseason this fall, their Double-A affiliate the Altoona Curve will be. Hopefully, the Curve can bring a second consecutive EL Championship back to the Pirate organization.