The gametime temperature was 93 degrees and it soon reached 100, but the Pirates cooled off the Washington Nationals Saturday in the nation’s capital.
Joe Block reports.
The series concludes today in Washington. The Pirates will send rookie righthander Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.62 ERA) to the mound against the Nats’ righty Cade Cavalli (5-4, 3.69 ERA). Coverage begins with Pirates Insider with general manager Ben Cherington at noon.
The Pirates placed left-handed reliever Evan Sisk on the 15-day injured list yesterday and recalled right-hander Hunter Stratton from Indianapolis. Sisk, who is 1-0 with a 2.23 ERA in 32 appearances this year, has an inflamed left elbow. Stratton, who was re-acquired from the Atlanta Braves for catcher Joey Bart on June 18th, made four appearances for Indianapolis, allowing two hits, two walks, and no runs in five-and-a-third innings.
SKENES MAKES ALL-STAR TEAM
In spite of the fact that several teammates are having statistically superior season and he hasn’t won a game since May 12th, Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was named yesterday as the team’s lone representative to the National League All-Star team. Skenes is 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA. After beating the Nationals yesterday, Braxton Ashcraft is 9-3 with a 3.24 ERA.
Other Pirates worthy of consideration but not selected include second baseman Brandon Lowe (fifth in the NL in home runs, with twenty, leading all MLB second basemen, and leads MLB second basemen with 60 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .494.); third baseman Nick Gonzalez (.307 batting average, tied for eleventh in MLB in multi-hit games with 55), and left fielder Bryan Reynolds (leads all MLB left-fielders with 21 doubles and 55 RBIs, tied for third in National League with .395 on-base percentage.)
