◆NEWSKonnor Griffin To Begin Rehab Assignment◆ROSTERSent SS Konnor Griffin on a rehab assignment to Altoona Curve◆HOT BATOneil Cruz: .256 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .920 OPS (last 2 weeks)◆LAST GAMEBraxton Ashcraft 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 K◆ROSTERRecalled LHP Evan Sisk from Indianapolis Indians◆ON THE BUMPBraxton Ashcraft: 1.89 ERA, 9 K (last 2 weeks)◆ROSTEROptioned RHP Noah Murdock to Indianapolis Indians◆STATNick Gonzales ranks 2nd in the NL in batting average (.307)◆ROSTERSigned free agent RHP Tyler Owens to a minor league contract◆STATPaul Skenes ranks 6th in the NL in strikeouts (175)

OffBeat

Paul Skenes Will Be Fine. The Pirates Bullpen Might Not Be.

Mar 27 · 15:22

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Episode Notes

Opening Day was supposed to feel like the start of something big. Instead, it raised a bunch of uncomfortable questions. On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf reacts to the Pirates’ ugly 11-7 loss to the Mets, breaks down Paul Skenes’ uncharacteristically rough first inning, and explains why Oneil Cruz’s defensive mistakes mattered but should not define the story. Alex also digs into the bigger concern that came out of Game 1: a bullpen that already looked shaky in the exact areas many feared coming into the season. It is one game, but it was the kind of one game that immediately puts the spotlight on some real pressure points.