2017 Pittsburgh Pirates season
| 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Division | Central Division | |
| Ballpark | PNC Park | |
| City | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1] | |
| Record | 75–87 (.463) | |
| Owners | Robert Nutting | |
| Managers | Clint Hurdle | |
| Television | Root Sports Pittsburgh (April–July) AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh (July–October) | |
| Radio | KDKA-FM Pittsburgh Pirates Radio Network (Steve Blass, Joe Block, Greg Brown, Bob Walk, John Wehner) | |
| Stats | ESPN.com Baseball Reference | |
| ||
The 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the franchise's 136th season overall, 131st season as a member of the National League, and the 17th season at PNC Park. They failed to improve on their record from the previous season and finished fourth in their division and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
Offseason and spring training
Infielder Jung-ho Kang was found guilty by a South Korean court for his third offense of Driving under the influence, and as a result, the initial request for a work visa to enter the United States for the 2017 season was denied.[2] He would miss the whole season with the Pirates.[3]
The Pirates recorded a 19–12 win–loss record in preseason spring training, the third best record in the Grapefruit League. In addition, two of their games finished tied and were therefore not included in the standings.[4]
Regular season
April
- April 3 – The Pirates lost on Opening Day to the Boston Red Sox 5–3.
- April 7 – In their home opener against the Atlanta Braves, the Pirates defeated the Braves 5–4. The Pirates would go on to win all three games of the series to sweep the Braves.
- April 9 – Starling Marte hit a walk-off home run in the tenth inning to propel the Pirates to a 5–4 win and series sweep over the Braves.[5]
- April 12 – The Pirates were swept by the Cincinnati Reds following a 9–2 loss.[6]
- April 16 – Following a four-game losing streak, the Pirates rally to beat the Chicago Cubs 6–1 to sweep the three-game series at Wrigley Field.[7]
- April 18 – Starling Marte was suspended 80 games after testing positive for nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance; he will not be eligible to return until after the team's 93rd game on July 17 and is ineligible for postseason play if the team qualifies.[8]
- April 19 – The Pirates were swept following three straight 2–1 losses to the St. Louis Cardinals.[9] The Pirates have been swept in three of the five series to date and have swept their opponent in the other two series to date.
- April 22 – The Pirates lost to the New York Yankees 11–5 after beating them in the first game of the series.[10] The series marks the first series of the year where the Pirates did not sweep their opponent nor did they get swept.
- April 24 - the Pirates fielded the first baseball player to be born and raised in Lithuania, to reach the major leagues, Dovydas Neverauskas. In 1933, Joe Zapustas was the first Lithuanian-born player to play in MLB, as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, however he grew up in Boston.[11]
- April 26 - The Pirates promoted South African Gift Ngoepe from the AAA Indianapolis Indians; making him the first African-born player in MLB history.[12]
- The Pirates finished the month with a win/loss record of 11–13, fourth in the NL Central at 2.0 games out of first.
May
- May 3 – Iván Nova was named NL Pitcher of the Month for April.[13]
June
- Andrew McCutchen is named the National League Player of the Month
July
- July 2 – Josh Harrison is elected to the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[14]
- July 18 – Starling Marte is reactivated after performance-enhancing drug suspension[15]
August
- August 6 – Sean Rodriguez, in his first game since being re-acquired by the Pirates a day earlier, hits a walk-off home run in the twelfth inning to give the Pirates a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres.[16]
- August 20 – The Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3, in the 2017 MLB Little League Classic held at Bowman Field, located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
- August 23 – Josh Harrison became the first player in MLB history to break up a no-hitter in extra innings with a walk-off home run. The home run was hit in the tenth inning, off of pitcher Rich Hill, to give the Pirates a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.[17]
September
- September 4 - Josh Bell broke the National League record for most home runs by a rookie switch hitter, hitting his 24th of the season off of Jake Arrieta, in a 12-0 Pirates' rout of the Chicago Cubs [18]
- September 5 - Longtime Pirates TV broadcaster Kent Tekulve announced his retirement, after the Pirates' 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs.[19]
Season standings
National League Central
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 92 | 70 | .568 | — | 48–33 | 44–37 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 86 | 76 | .531 | 6 | 46–38 | 40–38 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 83 | 79 | .512 | 9 | 44–37 | 39–42 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 75 | 87 | .463 | 17 | 44–37 | 31–50 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 68 | 94 | .420 | 24 | 39–42 | 29–52 |
National League playoff standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 104 | 58 | .642 |
| Washington Nationals | 97 | 65 | .599 |
| Chicago Cubs | 92 | 70 | .568 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 93 | 69 | .574 | +6 |
| Colorado Rockies | 87 | 75 | .537 | — |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 86 | 76 | .531 | 1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 83 | 79 | .512 | 4 |
| Miami Marlins | 77 | 85 | .475 | 10 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 75 | 87 | .463 | 12 |
| Atlanta Braves | 72 | 90 | .444 | 15 |
| San Diego Padres | 71 | 91 | .438 | 16 |
| New York Mets | 70 | 92 | .432 | 17 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 68 | 94 | .420 | 19 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 66 | 96 | .407 | 21 |
| San Francisco Giants | 64 | 98 | .395 | 23 |
Record vs. opponents
Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH | AL |
| Arizona | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 11–8 | 11–8 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 4–3 | 11–8 | 12–7 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 12–8 |
| Atlanta | 4–2 | — | 1–6 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 11–8 | 4–2 | 7–12 | 6–13 | 2–5 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 9–10 | 9–11 |
| Chicago | 3–3 | 6–1 | — | 12–7 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 10–9 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 14–5 | 3–4 | 12–8 |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 3–3 | 7–12 | — | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 8–11 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 13–6 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 9–10 | 1–6 | 5–15 |
| Colorado | 8–11 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 4–3 | — | 10–9 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 12–7 | 12–7 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 10–10 |
| Los Angeles | 8–11 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 9–10 | — | 6–1 | 3–3 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 13–6 | 11–8 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 16–4 |
| Miami | 4–3 | 8–11 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 1–6 | — | 2–4 | 12–7 | 8–11 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 6–13 | 9–11 |
| Milwaukee | 3–4 | 2–4 | 9–10 | 11–8 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 3–3 | 9–10 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 11–8 | 4–3 | 11–9 |
| New York | 1–6 | 12–7 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 0–7 | 7–12 | 2–5 | — | 12–7 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 6–13 | 7–13 |
| Philadelphia | 1–6 | 13–6 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 11–8 | 3–3 | 7–12 | — | 2–5 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 8–11 | 5–15 |
| Pittsburgh | 3–4 | 5–2 | 9–10 | 6–13 | 3–3 | 1–6 | 4–3 | 10–9 | 3–3 | 5–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–5 | 8–11 | 4–3 | 10–10 |
| San Diego | 8–11 | 2–5 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 7–12 | 6–13 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 12–7 | 3–4 | 2–5 | 8–12 |
| San Francisco | 7–12 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 7–12 | 8–11 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 7–12 | — | 3–4 | 1–5 | 8–12 |
| St. Louis | 4–3 | 5–1 | 5–14 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 8–11 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 11–8 | 4–3 | 4–3 | — | 3–3 | 8–12 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 10–9 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 13–6 | 3–4 | 13–6 | 11–8 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 10–10 |
Detailed records
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game log
| 2017 Game Log: 75–87 (Home: 44–37; Away: 31–50) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April: 11–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 5–7)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May: 13–17 (Home: 8–7; Away: 5–10)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June: 13–13 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–6)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July: 14–11 (Home: 6–3; Away: 8–8)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August: 12–17 (Home: 8–8; Away: 4–9)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September/October: 12–16 (Home: 9–6; Away: 3–10)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Pirates team member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• August 20 game vs St. Louis Cardinals to be played at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania as part of the 2017 MLB Little League Classic.
Roster
Opening Day lineup
| Opening Day Starters | |
|---|---|
| Name | Position |
| Adam Frazier | LF |
| Starling Marte | CF |
| Andrew McCutchen | RF |
| Gregory Polanco | DH |
| David Freese | 3B |
| Francisco Cervelli | C |
| Josh Bell | 1B |
| Josh Harrison | 2B |
| Jordy Mercer | SS |
| Gerrit Cole | SP |
Disabled lists
7-day disabled list
| Player | Injury | Placed | Activated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Cervelli | Concussion | June 7, 2017 | June 14, 2017 |
| Francisco Cervelli | Concussion | June 22, 2017 | July 3, 2017 |
10-day disabled list
| Player | Injury | Placed | Activated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Frazier | Left Hamstring Strain | April 23, 2017 | May 12, 2017 |
| Antonio Bastardo | Left Quad Strain | April 25, 2017 | June 27, 2017 |
| David Freese | Right Hamstring Strain | April 26, 2017 | May 12, 2017 |
| Jameson Taillon | Groin Discomfort | May 4, 2017 | June 12, 2017 |
| Gregory Polanco | Left Hamstring Strain | May 17, 2017 | May 25, 2017 |
| Josh Lindblom | Left Side Discomfort | May 20, 2017 | June 24, 2017 |
| Chris Stewart | Left Hamstring Strain | May 30, 2017 | June 18, 2017 |
| Gregory Polanco | Left Hamstring Strain | July 22, 2017 | August 2, 2017 |
| Gregory Polanco | Left Hamstring Strain | August 13, 2017 | September 8, 2017 |
| Francisco Cervelli | Left Wrist Inflammation | August 14, 2017 | August 25, 2017 |
| Wade LeBlanc | Strained Left Quadricep | August 18, 2017 | September 1, 2017 |
| George Kontos | Right Groin Strain | August 22, 2017 | September 7, 2017 |
| Joaquín Benoit | Left Knee Inflammation | August 22, 2017 | September 1, 2017 |
| Francisco Cervelli | Strained Left Quadricep | August 26, 2017 | October 2, 2017 |
| Adam Frazier | Right Hamstring Strain | August 28, 2017 | September 8, 2017 |
| Josh Harrison | Fractured Left Hand | September 3, 2017 | September 10, 2017 |
60-day disabled list
| Player | Injury | Placed | Activated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Harrison | Fractured Left Hand | September 10, 2017 | November 6, 2017 |
Notable achievements
Awards
National League Pitcher of the Month
- Iván Nova (April)
National League Player of the Month
- Andrew McCutchen (June)
2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
- Josh Harrison, INF, Reserve
National League Player of the Week
- Andrew McCutchen (September 25-October 1)
Transactions
The Pirates were involved in the following transactions during the 2017 season:
Trades
Free agents
Waivers
Signings
Other
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Altoona
References
- ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Shore in 1907.
- ^ "Report: Jung Ho Kang denied visa to enter United States". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 24, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob (August 27, 2017). "Pirates notebook: Jung Ho Kang trying to get visa to play in Dominican Republic". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "2017 Spring Training Standings". MLB. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Marte's walk-off homer in 10th leads Pirates by Braves 6-5". Fox Sports. AP. April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
- ^ "PIRATES SWEPT BY REDS". 1160 WCCS | The Voice of Indiana County | Indiana, PA. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates sweep series from Cubs at Wrigley". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates OF Starling Marte gets 80-game ban after positive PED test". ESPN.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates Lose 2-1 Again, Swept By Cardinals". Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Carter, Yankees jump on Pirates late in 11-5 win". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ Nesbitt, Stephen J. (April 27, 2017). "Dovydas Neverauskas makes history for Lithuania; Adam Frazier to DL". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ "Pirates' Gift Ngoepe: Promoted by Pirates". CBS Sports. April 26, 2017.
- ^ Nesbitt, Stephen (May 3, 2017). "Iván Nova named National League pitcher of the month for April". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob (July 2, 2017). "Josh Harrison chosen to represent Pirates at All-Star Game". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
- ^ "Sean Rodriguez caps return to Pittsburgh Pirates with game-winning homer vs. San Diego Padres". UPI. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ Biertempfel, Bob (August 23, 2017). "History at PNC Park! Pirates' Josh Harrison ends Rich Hill's no-hit bid with walk-off homer". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- ^ "Josh Bell Breaks National League Record, Pirates Rout Cubs 12-0". KDKA-TV. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob (September 5, 2017). "Pirates overcome base-running gaffes to rally past Cubs". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- ^ http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/212196902/pirates-announce-minor-league-coaches-for-2017/
