PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates continue to look at pitchers bringing back Max Kranick to start Wednesday night and veteran Shelby Miller to work out of the bullpen.
The 24 year-old Kranick is making his sixth start in the majors, is 1-2 with a 7.20 ERA with eight walks to 18 strikeouts. Thirteen starts in the minors in 2021, all at AAA, 3-4 with a 4.81 ERA with 14 walks and 51 strikeouts.
The right-handed Kranick picked in the 11th round out of Archbald, PA in 2016 jumped from High A in 2019 to AAA this season.
The 30 year-old Miller signed in late June after his release by the Cubs. The 6’3” right-hander has good numbers in AAA with the Pirates and Chicago, combined 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA with 37 strikeouts to just nine walks in 24.1 innings.
“Why the opportunity?” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We liked what he did in Indy. We wanted a chance to get a look at him. We felt he deserved an opportunity up here.”
The former Cardinals first round pick burst on the scene in 2013 going 15-9 with a 3.06 ERA. Miller was 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA in 2014. The crazy year in 2015 winning 6 and losing 17 despite a 3.02 ERA with Atlanta.
Leaving for Arizona in 2016, Miller would combine for six wins in the next 36 starts allowing 140 runs in 183 innings. Miller pitched two innings with the Cubs this year allowing seven runs on seven hits and five walks for a 31.50 ERA.
Other notes
· Shelton said he wanted to give Cole Tucker a shot to lead-off with a left-hander starting Wednesday.
· Hoy Park starting at third base, just an opportunity to ‘add to his tool bag’ of positions he can play
· Said what High-A second baseman Nick Gonzales has done, 5 HR and 15 RBI in two games, is ‘unbelievable’. “You talk about guys getting hot and seeing the ball,” Shelton said. “I’m assuming it looks really big to him right now.”