PBN Around the Horn: Pirates Start Three-Game Tilt with Nationals

Welcome to the PBN Around the Horn. Here you’ll find news and notes from across Major League Baseball, your Pittsburgh Pirates, and around the Sports Now network.

After a much-needed off day, your Pittsburgh Pirates (50-90) will start a three-game series against the Washington Nationals (58-82). Toeing the rubber for the Pirates will be Steven Brault (5.61 ERA); and he will go against Josh Rodgers (4.76 ERA). First pitch is 6:35 p.m.

Weather: 70 degrees and sunny 
TV/Radio: AT&T Sportsnet, 93.7 The Fan
Line: PITT -120 favorites, O/U 9 runs 

UPDATE (4:24 p.m.) Pirates’ prospect Canaan Smith-Njigba has returned from the IL and has been inserted into the Altoona Curve lineup and will bat 3rd and play left field.

Check out tonight's starting lineup, with @CanaanSmith_ fresh off the IL! First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sxyanvdxnp

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 10, 2021

UPDATE (4:09 p.m.) The money line and O/U have been posted. The Pirates are -120 favorites according to Draft Kings. The O/U is a solid 9 runs.

UPDATE (4:08 p.m.) The Nationals have announced their starting pitcher. Starting for the Nationals will be the lefty Josh Rodgers (4.76 ERA)

UPDATE (3:14 p.m.) Lineup 

1. Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B
2. Kevin Newman 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds CF
4. Yoshi Tsutsugo 1B
5. Jacob Stallings C
6. Anthony Alford LF
7. Ben Gamel RF
8. Cole Tucker SS

UPDATE (11:06 a.m.)- The Pirates had an off day yesterday but that doesn’t mean their position in the 2022 MLB draft couldn’t change. Thursday both the Rangers and Diamondbacks had off days as well. Baltimore lost, so here are the updated standings. Diamondbacks are in first and the Pirates are 5.0 games back, Orioles are in second and the Pirates are 4.5 back, the Pirates sit in third and are up 1.5 games on the Rangers who sit in fourth.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now Notes

Eleven Pirates Prospects selected to play winter league ball

Quotes from Mitch Keller and Derek Shelton 

Pirates Prospects Notes

Jason Gindele and Wilbur Miller have you covered in all things prospects on Thursday. First, we lead off with Jason analyzing Nick Gonzales, Matt Fraizer, and the 2021 draft class. Finally, a tradition as old as the hills is Wilbur covering us with all of the prospect performances on the prospect watch. 

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