North Shore Nine

Philadelphia Phillies (5-7, T-12th in Grapefruit League) at Pittsburgh Pirates (6-8, T-10th in Grapefruit League)

Game Time: 1:05 ET
LECOM Park
Bradenton, FL

Watch
Pirates – SportsNet-PIT
Listen
Pirates – KDKA-FM 93.7
Phillies – 94 WIP

Probable Starters:
PIT – Quinn Priester (0-0 2.25 ERA)
PHI – Max Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Quinn Priester will take the mound for the Bucs looking to make a late push for an Opening Day roster spot. Priester has started fairly well this spring; over four innings, he has surrendered only one run and holds a 0.750 WHIP.

The emergence of Jared Jones as a rotation option has added yet another mountain to climb for Priester. Fangraphs currently projects Priester to start in Triple-A Indianapolis, but there is a lot of time between now and Opening Day in Miami. Jones is also probable to pitch today.

Jared Triolo gets the start at second base today. No Liover Peguero or Nick Gonzales in the starting lineup, so Triolo will continue making his case for more innings at second base.

Pirate fans will have their eyes squarely on Ke’Bryan Hayes for the rest of spring. Hayes continues to tear the cover off the ball (.368/.400/.895), which is great news for the middle of this order.

Other probable pitchers for the Pirates today:
Jared Jones
Ryder Ryan
Braxton Ashcraft
Hunter Stratton
Carmen Mlodzinski

Braxton Ashcraft will look to continue his red hot start to spring, only allowing one baserunner over three innings.

Hunter Stratton will make his team leading 6th appearance of spring. Stratton has been in fine form, striking out four over 4.2 innings, holding a 0.00 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP.

The Phillies will send out a light lineup today, but Pirate fans will get a look at former friend Rodolfo Castro. Fangraphs currently projects Castro to start in Triple-A, so he’ll be looking to do damage against his former club.

Joshua Palacios has been scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch. Carter Bins will take his spot at DH and bat 9th, Ali Sanchez moves to 8th. Edward Olivares moves to 7th.

As always, join fellow Pirates fans in the North Shore Nine Discord.