Pittsburgh Pirates: Trevor Williams Healthy, Starting Monday

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Pirates had to scratch one of their starting pitchers this past weekend.  However, it now looks like he will make a start tonight.

This past weekend, the Pittsburgh Pirates took on the Philadelphia Phillies for a three game set.  On Saturday, Trevor Williams was slated to start.  The Bucs lost on Friday night and with Williams going Saturday there was optimism he would help lock down a win and the Bucs would get their first series win the of the “second half”.

Well, of course, that did not exactly happen.  Williams was scratched from his start on Saturday due to “severe flu-like symptoms.”  Instead the Pittsburgh Pirates moved Joe Musgrove up a day in the rotation to pitch on Saturday.  Musgrove went out and pitched one of his strongest games of the year and the Bucs won.  Dario Agrazal made yesterday’s start and pitched very well, but the team could not get the bats going and lost 2-1.

The good news is that Trevor Williams is feeling better and going to start tonight.  Clint Hurdle announced this yesterday to the media.  Adam Berry of MLB.com tweeted

Then after the game, Hurdle confirmed that Williams did well in his workouts and will indeed make his start against the Cardinals. Berry once again, tweeted:

This is big, as this very well could be the series that determines the Bucs’ trade deadline plan.  The Pittsburgh Pirates will take on the Cardinals for four games, a team that is above them in the standings.  If the team loses the series it would leave them in a very tough situation in the standings.

With Williams making the start, he has a chance to get back to form and give the team a much needed first win.  Even more so, if the Bucs want to climb back into the playoff race, Williams is going to need to start pitching as he did in the second half of last season.  Tomorrow night would be a good night to start.

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