Potential trade of Andrew McCutchen means tomorrow never comes for Pirates

By Mark Madden

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

December 1, 2016

Andrew McCutchen is being shopped by the Pirates. He had a bad 2016, but McCutchen is only 30 and arguably still the team’s best player. He led the Pirates in home runs and runs scored and was second in RBI.

But he’s scheduled to make $14.2 million next year.

Josh Harrison is being shopped, also. The Pirates traded Neil Walker for a scrub pitcher in 2015, ostensibly because they had Harrison to play second base. Now, just a year later, the Pirates are looking to trade Harrison.

Harrison is scheduled to make $18 million over the next two seasons.

Manager Clint Hurdle’s contract runs through 2017, with a club option for 2018. Hurdle said he and the Pirates are not currently talking about an extension, even though now is the logical time for that.

One of the Pirates’ media propaganda arms cited Tom Prince as a logical in-house successor to Hurdle, even though Prince hasn’t managed above Class AA. Anyway, Hurdle is only 59, not old for a manager. Prince is just seven years his junior.

Sean Rodriguez went to Atlanta via free agency, taking 18 home runs with him. Matt Joyce departed for Oakland. He went deep 13 times. The Pirates hit just 153 homers last year, ranking 26th in MLB.

The Pirates are connected with no free agents, including their own.

What the heck is going on at PNC Park?

Just one season removed from winning 98 games, it looks like the Pirates are considering a youth movement.

Youth movements don’t cost much.

Those who support trading McCutchen point out that money saved by moving his salary could be spent on needed starting pitching. But would it?

Josh Bell is a logical replacement in the outfield, with Starling Marte moving to center field. Bell is talented, but has just 152 big-league plate appearances. Can he replace a 30-year-old former National League MVP, especially in the short term?

Austin Meadows, 21, is an outfield prospect that should arrive soon. But when will that be, exactly?

Will the Pirates ever make decisions based on right now?

The situation created by Harrison’s departure would be murky. Second-base options are Adam Frazier (146 major-league plate appearances) and Alen Hanson (33 major-league plate appearances).

Bell, Frazier and Hanson are all 24: Not at all young by the standard most organizations apply to “prospects.”

Harrison’s stats last year were disappointing, especially considering his price tag. His on-base percentage was a meager .311. But the Pirates knew what Harrison was when they gave him a four-year, $27.3 million contract in 2015.

The Pirates give deals like Harrison’s and McCutchen’s for PR purposes. Owner Bob Nutting never intends to pay the full price.

The Pirates payroll was MLB’s sixth-lowest in 2015 and 2016, but dropped $3 million this year. It is likely to be cut a lot more by opening day 2017.

Pedro Alvarez, J.A. Happ, Francisco Liriano, Mark Melancon and Walker have all gone elsewhere since the Pirates won 98 games in 2015. Once McCutchen is dealt, Marte will be the only player left from the starting lineup for the Pirates' 2013 wild-card victory over Cincinnati. That’s only three years ago.

You can debate the individual merits of each departed player. But that’s extremely high turnover from a good team, especially considering that only Happ left via free agency. Everybody else was either traded or cut.

A good baseball deal could be made using McCutchen. Same with Harrison.

But while that’s always the promise, good baseball deals weren’t made using Liriano and Walker. Melancon brought decent return, but the Pirates swapped their All-Star closer this past July 30 when they were just three games out of a wild card.

The motivation is always money. Every single time. You’re foolish to believe otherwise, and dumber still to trust the Pirates. Every single word that comes out of their mouths is horse manure.

If you still have faith, let’s see how you feel after McCutchen and Harrison depart. Where will it stop? Closer Tony Watson is also said to be available.

Fans are starting to catch on. Attendance dipped by 250K last season. That’s OK. Raise ticket prices, cut payroll, whatever. The con goes on.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

Trading McCutchen would be a betrayal by Pirates

By Kevin Gorman

http://triblive.com/sports/

December 1, 2016

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There is only way to describe the Pirates aggressively attempting to trade Andrew McCutchen, the face of the franchise.

The ultimate betrayal.

Not just to McCutchen but to Pirates fans and the City of Pittsburgh.

We deserve better than a bottom-line owner more concerned with making payroll than the playoffs, one whose words simply are lip service.

We have given Bob Nutting the benefit of the doubt. Now all that remains is the doubt.

Three years ago, Nutting promised to “compete for championships.”

Yet when McCutchen signed a six-year, $51.5-million deal in March 2012 — an absolute bargain when he won National League MVP a year later — the Pirates didn't spend the money they saved with McCutchen on complementary pieces.

Last January, Nutting told USA Today he hoped McCutchen would remain a Pirate for life.

“I'm not sure we're allowed to sign lifetime agreements, but I'd love to see him stay with us forever,” Nutting said. “He's been remarkable for the game, and for Pittsburgh on and off the field.”

So why trade Cutch now?

The Pirates will try to sell this as a baseball move.

If so, it's a bad one.

The Pirates are asking for prospects and a starting pitcher for a five-time All-Star and four-time MVP finalist.

Faster than you can say Midre Cummings, I should remind you that the Pirates' recent history of trading All-Stars (Aramis Ramirez, Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez, to name a few) hasn't netted much of a return. Pirates fans deserved a player they could connect with and found one in McCutchen, who not only found stardom but an adopted hometown.

After averaging .313, 25 home runs, 90 RBIs and a .926 OPS the previous four years, McCutchen is coming off a sub-par season in which he batted .256 with a .776 OPS and his play in centerfield slipped. Which makes this the worst time to trade him, given that his value dipped.

It's true that two-time Gold Glove winner Starling Marte could move to center, and the Pirates could flank him in the outfield with Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell. It's true that Austin Meadows is waiting in the wings, much like McCutchen was when the Pirates traded an All-Star in Nate McLouth to the Braves to make room for McCutchen.

“Playing center field is one thing,” McCutchen told MLB.com, “but being a leader out there is another. That's something we need.”

That's something the Pirates desperately would lack without McCutchen, their first superstar since Barry Bonds left for San Francisco. A prospect drafted and developed by the Pirates, McCutchen became the cornerstone of a team that ended their 20-year losing streak and made three consecutive playoff appearances.

Let's be clear: Nutting's ownership, which has profited from taxpayers building the Pirates a first-class ballpark, wasn't at the root of that turnaround. McCutchen was the catalyst, the one who puts fans in the stands and energized PNC Park. McCutchen outperformed his contract yet never complained about being underpaid or demanded a new deal.

Even last season, when he struggled after moving to the No. 2 spot in the lineup and was benched for a three-game series in Atlanta, McCutchen never publicly pouted. Instead, he finished the final two months strong, hitting .284 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and an .853 OPS and ended up leading the Pirates in hits (153) and home runs (24).

At 30, McCutchen is still in his prime. At $14 million this season, with a club option for $14.5 million next year, he remains a bargain. Like Ben Roethlisberger to the Steelers and Sidney Crosby to the Penguins, McCutchen is the face of the Pirates, one who gave this city hope it could win another World Series.

But Nutting is making it clear the Pirates don't want to pay the price for a superstar, let alone what it costs to win a World Series. That's a betrayal to Pirates fans and, most of all, to McCutchen.

Pirate for life? No, just another one for sale.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him atkgorman@tribweb.comor via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

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Hurdle taking McCutchen's future with Pirates 'one day at a time'

BY ROB BIERTEMPFEL

http://triblive.com/sports/

November 18, 2016

Andrew McCutchen #22 greets manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to their National League Wild Card game against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on October 1, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

(Jason Miller/Getty Images North America) 

In about 96 percent of his games as Pirates manager, Clint Hurdle has written Andrew McCutchen's name on the lineup card.

Hurdle might not have that luxury much longer.

Less than three weeks before MLB's winter meetings, there are signs the Pirates are ready to trade their star center fielder. At the recent general managers meetings, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington indicated other clubs have inquired about McCutchen.

On Wednesday, Hurdle told the Tribune-Review he isn't certain how much longer McCutchen will remain in Pittsburgh.

“I'll take it one day at a time,” Hurdle said. “I think any general manager that's in a market similar to the one we're in has to explore the possibility of (trading) players who have one or two years left on their contracts. You have to see what value is there to keep or to move.

“That's the way we're going to need to continue to operate. It's the hard part of what we get to do.”

McCutchen, who is on vacation in Hawaii, was unavailable for comment.

“Andrew has been very black and white in the conversations I've had with him,” Hurdle said. “He's told me, ‘I'm under contract here, so I plan on playing here. However, I don't call all the shots, either.' ”

Before the 2012 season, McCutchen sighed a six-year, $51.5 million contract extension. The deal will pay him $14 million in 2017 and includes a $14.75 million club option for 2018.

McCutchen, 30, has said he wants to end his career with the Pirates. However, the team has not approached him about another long-term extension.

“When you pay a player (when he's) 37 or 38 years old, it's hard,” Hurdle said. “We did a bunch of research on contracts of four or more years, the risk versus the reward. There are not many that end up well. That's history. Those are facts.”

McCutchen was an established big leaguer when Hurdle was hired before the 2011 season. Two years later, McCutchen blossomed into the National League MVP.

Last season, however, McCutchen struggled. His .256 batting average and .766 OPS were career lows. Over the past three years, he has battled rib, knee and thumb injuries.

“Andrew is a special man. He's been a special player,” Hurdle said. “That's the one thing that you continue to honor as you continue to plan. He's here until he's not here, in my mind.”

In 2004, Hurdle managed in Colorado when the Rockies traded popular slugger Larry Walker to the St. Louis Cardinals. At the time, Walker had one year left on a $76 million contract.

“It was a hard day when I called Larry Walker in and told him we'd moved him,” Hurdle said. “It worked out well for Walker. He got to go to the playoffs with the Cardinals. I don't even remember the players we got from St. Louis, so I don't think that worked out so good.”

To get Walker, St. Louis parted with Jason Burch, Luis Martinez and Chris Narveson. None of those three ever pitched an inning for the Rockies.

“The money side of it, I'm sure, helped,” Hurdle said. “Sometimes, these things have a way of taking care of themselves for both sides.”

Rob Biertempfel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.

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Only bottom line benefits if Pirates trade Andrew McCutchen

By Mark Madden

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

November 11, 2016

(Icon Sportswire)

I was told via Twitter that I know nothing about baseball, because my only analysis when it comes to the Pirates is that owner Bob Nutting is cheap.

Thing is, that’s the only analysis I need.

The Pirates’ media partners/fanboy apologists are greasing the skids for the trade of center fielder Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates center fielder had a dismal 2016, posting career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. It was McCutchen’s worst campaign at the plate, in the field and on the bases.

But trading McCutchen would make zero sense.

McCutchen is the Pirates’ best player. One bad season doesn’t change that.

McCutchen is 30. There’s no reason to believe he won’t rebound.

Move McCutchen to a corner spot, yes. Be insistent when it comes to defensive positioning, sure. Have him accept certain limitations brought on by advancing years, absolutely.

But keep him. Teams that trade a superstar rarely win the deal. The Pirates would mostly get prospects for the future.

When does the future get here? Wasn’t 2016 supposed to be a “bridge year” to a better 2017? Is a better 2017 probable (or even possible) without McCutchen?

If McCutchen departs, who hits home runs? He led the Pirates with 24. The Pirates only went deep 153 times, ranking 26th in MLB.

The Pirates control McCutchen’s contract for two more years: 2017 is guaranteed at $14 million. There’s a club option for 2018 at $14.75 mil. If McCutchen walks after that, so what? The Pirates have lost plenty of free agents before, and will again.

Keep McCutchen and make the most out of his remaining two seasons.

The odds that any good comes from dealing McCutchen are astronomical.

Except if the Pirates want to cut payroll. Don’t they always?

Yeah, I know: Starling Marte can move to center field. Josh Bell can go back to the outfield, “where he (suddenly) belongs.” Platoon John Jaso and David Freese at first. (Sean Rodriguez and his 18 home runs will also depart.) Use the money saved by trading McCutchen to get a legit starting pitcher.

It all sounds good. Except McCutchen is your best player. None of that replaces your best player. Bell is untested. Jaso and Freese are jabronis.

Anyway, the Pirates wouldn’t spend the money saved via swapping McCutchen on a legit starting pitcher. Some would be used to pay raises on existing contracts. Nutting would just keep the rest. Pay down debt, perhaps.

Are any of you suckers paying attention? The Pirates traded a “legit starting pitcher” (Francisco Liriano) to Toronto, and threw in two of the organization's top 10 prospects for the express purpose of ditching Liriano’s $13 million annual salary on a contract that runs through next season. GM Neal Huntington made that deal when the Pirates were still just four games out of a wild card.

How stupid does Nutting think the ticket-buyers are? Hey, he might be right.

Or maybe not. Attendance at PNC Park dropped a quarter-mil from ’15 to ’16. Trading McCutchen might be a tough sell.

But it’s definitely being considered. In fact, Fox Sports reports that the Pirates had serious talks about shipping McCutchen to Washington at this past season’s trade deadline. The best part of the return would have been Victor Robles, 19, the Nationals’ top outfield prospect. A teenager.

Pitcher Ivan Nova had a good late-season run for the Pirates as a rental: 5-2, 3.06 ERA in 11 starts. Some project Nova to get $75 million over five years in free agency, but $52 mil over four years may be a more reasonable guess.

The chorus immediately went up from the stooges and fanboys: “You can’t pay Nova that kind of money!”

Of course you can. Somebody will. That’s market value. That’s what a pitcher of Nova’s caliber and accomplishment gets, give or take.

But the Pirates and their mouthpieces will always conjure up excuses for not spending, and for not winning. My minimalist form of baseball analysis remains sadly and totally accurate.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9)

Pirates head into offseason with plenty to work on

By Will Graves, Associated Press

http://www.sunherald.com/sports/

October 3, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen follows through on a two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo)

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/sports/article105634451.html#storylink=cpy

PITTSBURGH Clint Hurdle has gained an appreciation for advanced metrics during his six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The manager, though, doesn't need to dive too deeply into the numbers to figure out where his team went wrong in 2016.

"The game will always start with pitching," Hurdle said. "Always has, always will. If you look at it any other way, I think you're confused."

There was no confusion about what happened in Pittsburgh over the summer, when a bid for a fourth straight playoff berth cratered underneath the weight of a starting rotation that failed to live up to the standards set by its predecessors and a bullpen that faltered in crucial moments. The Pirates finished 18th in the majors in ERA (4.21), a full run a game higher than they allowed while winning 98 games in 2015.

A.J. Burnett's retirement and the inability to re-sign J.A. Happ last winter led Pittsburgh to take fliers on erratic veterans Jon Niese, Juan Nicasio and Ryan Vogelsong in the hopes pitching coach Ray Searage could replicate the magic that rejuvenated the careers of players like Burnett and Francisco Liriano. It simply didn't work. Niese was back with the New York Mets by August. Liriano was shipped to Toronto at the trade deadline following a nightmarish loss in form. Nicasio finished the year as a reliever and Vogelsong looked every bit his age as the 39-year-old went 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA over the final month.

How shaky was the rotation for the Pirates? Jeff Locke led them in innings pitched (127 1/3) and he spent the second half of the season as a long reliever.

"We took some chances on things early that didn't work out as anticipated," Hurdle said. "We're well aware of what we need to do to improve to be a championship-caliber team."

The goal over the winter will be figuring out how to get there in a typically competitive division that spent 2016 watching the Chicago Cubs become a distant spec on the horizon while they won the NL Central by an astounding 17 ½ games.

Some takeaways from six months of middling baseball that offered glimpses of promise and concern in near equal measure.

THE CUTCH QUANDRY: Pittsburgh's rise to contender coincided with star centerfielder Andrew McCutchen's evolution into one of the game's best players. The 2013 NL MVP, however, never found a rhythm in 2016. His .256 batting average marked a career low and he struck out a career-high 143 times. He's about to enter the final year of his contract and the Pirates front office has shown it won't hesitate to deal away favorite sons if necessary. They did it a year ago when second baseman Neil Walker - entering his final season of arbitration - was sent to New York in exchange for Niese.

Asked on Sunday if expected to be back in 2017, McCutchen took a pragmatic approach.

"I mean I'm under contract with them right?" McCutchen said. "So that's the way I'm looking at it but like I said, I don't align the stars, I'm not the person who controls all that."

PROSPERING PROSPECTS: Two years removed from Tommy John surgery that threatened his development, Jameson Taillon looked like a top-end starter while going 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 starts. Perhaps the most encouraging sign is Taillon's durability. He threw a combined 165 innings between the minors and the majors and didn't give up more than three runs in five September starts.

Tyler Glasnow's introduction to the majors was a bit rockier but he'll have all offseason to work on his mechanics and should arrive for spring training with a spot in the rotation as his to lose. First baseman Josh Bell brought a needed jolt of energy in 45 games, hitting .273 with three home runs and showed impressive plate discipline drawing 21 walks against 19 strikeouts.

"I like the fact that we've got young some really good young players in place for some time together," Hurdle said. "I think it bodes well for us."

WATSON'S WORKLOAD: The Pirates raised eyebrows when they sent All-Star closer Mark Melancon to Washington before the trade deadline and longtime apprentice Tony Watson dealt with some issues after moving from his set-up role to the back end of the bullpen. He blew four of his 19 save chances after taking over, including one in what became an 8-7 extra inning loss to the Cubs on Aug. 29 that sent Pittsburgh into an eight-game skid from which it never fully recovered. He'll almost certainly arrive in Bradenton as the closer, with Felipe Rivero — acquired from the Nationals — expected to become the setup man full-time.

BIG SPENDERS? Ivan Nova looked right at home in PNC Park after coming over from the New York Yankees. Nova went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA for the Pirates, who are aggressively trying to court Nova to stick around before he hits free agency. With a thin class to compete against, however, Nova won't come cheap on the open market. He may, however, be Pittsburgh's best bet to give Taillon and Gerrit Cole — who battled injuries all season — some help at the top of the rotation.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/sports/article105634451.html#storylink=cpy

Trading Andrew McCutchen makes sense, but fans shouldn't want it

By Mark Madden

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

October 4, 2016

MATTHEW PEARCE/ICON SPORTSWIRE

The Pirates plan to actively shop center fielder Andrew McCutchen and may trade him before next season when his earnings jump to $14.2 million.

It makes sense.

McCutchen is 29. He had career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He is declining in the field and on the base paths.

McCutchen has a year left on his deal, plus a $14.5 million club option for 2018. That’s decent contract control. McCutchen has only had one bad season, so the Pirates would get solid return in a trade. They would likely get prospects and a legit big-leaguer while opening up payroll space within the context of their budget.

But fans shouldn’t want the Pirates to trade McCutchen.

The Pirates wouldn’t take money saved by swapping McCutchen and re-invest it in payroll. Ownership would keep it, and cut spending. Attendance went down by a quarter-million this year. That’s just the excuse the Pirates need.

Starling Marte moves to center field. Josh Bell is a full-time outfielder once again. John Jaso and David Freese platoon at first base.

But, despite obvious financial gain, the Pirates shouldn’t swap McCutchen.

Pirates ticket-buyers may finally be figuring out the club’s priorities, as evidenced by the aforementioned drop in customers.

A quarter-mil is a cataclysmic decline given that the Pirates earned a postseason spot each of the last three seasons and were mathematically in the wild-card hunt until very late in September. During this season’s latter stages, turnstile count at PNC Park appeared to be lagging well behind tickets sold.

The Pirates’ first priority is maximizing profit. If winning helps do that, it’s a happy accident, and the organization does try to compete -- while never exceeding a self-imposed budget that seems too low given that owner Bob Nutting is a billionaire.

For the Pirates, one key to maximizing profit is maintaining the ruse that competing is a first concern and that winning isn’t far away.

That illusion is starting to dissipate.

J.A. Happ, Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, Mark Melancon and Francisco Liriano all left within eight months. All five were key components of a team that won 98 games last year, but just 78 this year. Every single one is on a playoff team. Their departures brought back zilch in terms of talent that could significantly help upon arrival. The players that replaced them were lesser.

Going from 98 victories to 78 is something that just shouldn’t happen. The primary reason it did was because the organization allowed it.

Pirates fans are dumb, but maybe not that dumb. Perhaps they’re finally allowing themselves to peek behind the curtain.

Even if a good deal is made to send McCutchen packing, fans would see it as the Pirates trading their best player to avoid paying him what would be the biggest wage in club history. A salary dump.

Cutch is popular. A legit star. Trading McCutchen would be a bad PR move, especially by a team that sells tickets based largely on shrewd marketing and media manipulation.

McCutchen isn’t yet 30. He’s only had one poor season. What McCutchen earns is what players of his caliber get. If he has another lousy season, his trade value drops. But it’s not reasonable to expect another bad performance unless something has gone wrong that he can’t fix. Is there any evidence to suggest that?

If the Pirates ditch McCutchen, they’re acknowledging that a window has closed, while hoping you don’t notice that they slammed it shut.

Forget the fans. What about the clubhouse?

The Pirates played uninspired, sloppy, inconsistent baseball down the stretch. If the players felt the organization quit on the season by swapping Melancon and Liriano at the trade deadline, that wouldn’t be surprising.

Melancon was closing as well as ever. Liriano was struggling, but teammates hadn’t lost faith. Neither departure was likely received well.

There is no real upside to trading McCutchen. We’ll learn that when it happens.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

Jaso hits for cycle as Pirates beat Cubs 8-4

By Alan Saunders, Associated Press

http://www.espn.com/mlb/

September 28, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates' John Jaso hits a three run home run off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (Gene J. Puskar/'AP Photo)

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/article104819511.html#storylink=cpy

PITTSBURGH -- Coming around second base in the seventh inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, John Jaso stumbled.

Then, he went for it.

Ninety feet later, Jaso was safe at third base with a triple to become the first player to hit a cycle in the 16-year history of PNC Park.

The triple off reliever Pedro Strop clinched the Pirates' first cycle since 2004. The last Pirate to hit for the cycle was Daryle Ward on May 26, 2004, in St. Louis. The last Pirates' home cycle was by Jason Kendall on May 19, 2000, against the Cardinals at Three Rivers Stadium.

Jaso isn't exactly a typical candidate for the cycle. He has neither prodigious power nor speed, as he hit just his seventh home run and third triple of the season. Jaso didn't even realize what had happened until he had already performed the feat.

"It didn't really dawn on me until I was standing on the base," he said. "I was looking at (third base coach Rick) Sofield and it finally just hit me."

Jaso's teammates were well aware of what was going on. Shortstop Jordy Mercer said they didn't want to jinx it by telling him.

"There was a little buzz going on and we were aware of the situation, but I don't think it's something you want to openly talk about when they have one more at-bat left," Mercer said.

But when Jaso looked like he might settle for a double after rounding second, Mercer and the rest of the bench became a legion of third-base coaches.

"We were just yelling, `Keep going! Keep going no matter what, just go," Mercer said. "It worked out. I couldn't be more happy for him. It was awesome."

Against Chicago starter Jake Arrieta (18-8), Jaso singled in the second inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth and doubled in the fifth. Arrieta went five innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs, both season highs.

"It's just a great memory to have," Jaso said. "You don't really want to take this blessing for granted being here."

Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out four in six innings.

Chicago's Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer, his 32nd of the season.

OH, CANADA

The Pirates announced that they will play a two-game preseason series in Montreal against the Toronto Blue Jays March 31 and April 1, 2017. The Pirates haven't played in Montreal since 2013.

TRAINING ROOM

Cubs: OF Chris Coghlan left the game with a mild left ankle sprain. He ran into the wall in left field attempting to catch a fly ball in the fifth inning. . Manager Joe Maddon expects OF Jorge Soler (right side) to be able to play this weekend.

Pirates: After being officially eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday, the Pirates will shut injured reliever Neftali Feliz down for the season, and will be "backing away" from C Francisco Cervelli, according to manager Clint Hurdle. Cervelli had hamate surgery in July and has dealt with several minor injuries all year. . OF Gregory Polanco did not play with a stiff neck. He had previously missed three games with a facial contusion following a collision with the wall in left field.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will make his first career start. In seven career appearances, his longest outing is 3 2/3 innings. Zastryzny started 14 games for Triple-A Iowa this season with a 7-3 record and a 4.22 ERA.

Pirates: Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.37 ERA) has lost two straight starts after winning his first five decisions with the Pirates since coming over from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. He has given up 11 runs (nine earned) and 18 hits over seven innings in his last two starts.

Stallings' pinch single in 11th lifts Pirates over Nats 6-5

By John Perrotto, Associated Press

http://www.espn.com/mlb/

September 24, 2016

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jacob Stallings (58) gets a shower from teammates Josh Bell, left rear, and Matt Joyce, right, during his post game interview after hitting a walk-off bases loaded single off Washington Nationals relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit in the 11th inning a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. The Pirates won 6-5. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/news/business/article103887631.html#storylink=cpy

PITTSBURGH -- Fans cheered when Mark Melancon came on to start the bottom of the ninth inning to try to protect a one-run lead for the Washington Nationals. The cheers got louder when the Pittsburgh Pirates' former closer blew his first save with his new team.

Rookie Jacob Stallings' pinch-hit single in the 11th lifted the Pirates over Washington 6-5 on Friday night, preventing the Nationals from clinching a postseason berth.

Sean Rodriguez's two-out RBI double in the ninth tied the score 5-5. Melancon blew a save for the first time in 13 chances since he was acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30 in a trade for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and a minor leaguer.

A brief video tribute was played on the scoreboard when Melancon entered the game.

"I didn't know they were going to put a montage up there," said Melancon, an All-Star in three of his four seasons with the Pirates. "It was classy. It was very cool to get a standing ovation. ... I wanted to tip my cap but I didn't because I didn't want to mess up my mojo. I should have tipped my cap."

Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out in the 11tth against Yusmiero Petit (3-5) when Francisco Cervelli doubled, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and Pedro Florimon walked. Rodriguez struck out and Stallings, a son of University of Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings, grounded a 3-2 pitch into left field.

Pittsburgh's seventh win in nine games kept it on the fringe of the NL wild-card race.

Washington lost for the fifth time in six games. The Nationals have magic numbers of one for a playoff berth and two for an NL East title.

Despite the expanded September rosters, Stallings was the last player left on the Pirates' bench.

"I kind of did the math in my head," Stallings said. "Bases loaded, two outs was the only way I was going to come up that inning. (Bench coach Dave) Jauss came up and told me to be ready. I went down and hit on the tee before that inning. I knew I was the last guy, so I figured just in case."

Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa homered for the Nationals. Bryce Harper had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman hit a pair of doubles.

Zimmerman's RBI double in the second inning opened the scoring and was the 1,500th hit of his 12-year big league career. Espinosa followed with 23rd homer for a 3-0 lead.

Ramos led off a two-run sixth with his 22nd homer, a drive off Antonio Bastardo. Jayson Werth drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning as the Nationals went back ahead 5-3.

Adam Frazier had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of half.

Wade LeBlanc (4-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

Pirates left fielder Gregory Polanco left the game in the first inning when bruised the left side of his face when crashing into the fence while chasing a double by Harper.

Both starters, Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez and Pittsburgh rookie Jameson Taillon, allowed three runs in five innings.

"It's disappointing because you want to wrap up a playoff berth as fast as you can but you're not going to win every game," Gonzalez said. "You've got to come back and get them tomorrow."

MINOR HONORS

First baseman/outfielder Josh Bell is the Pirates' minor league player of the year and right-hander Mitch Keller their minor league pitcher of the year. Bell hit .295 with 14 home runs in 114 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before being promoted to the major leagues. Keller went a combined 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 24 starts at Class A with West Virginia and Bradenton.

ROTATION SWITCH

Rookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow will start Sunday for the Pirates rather than rookie left-hander Steven Brault. Considering the organization's top propsect, Glasnow is 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA in five games, including two starts.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: 2B Daniel Murphy did not start for a fifth game in a row after an MRI revealed a strained glute muscle. He will sit out the three-game series be reevaluated.

Pirates: RHP A.J. Schugel (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 60-day disabled list, opening a roster spot for LHP Phil Coke, who joined the team after being acquired Thursday from the New York Yankees. . LF Starling Marte (back) sat out after being removed from Thursday night's loss at Milwaukee in the third inning. He missed 15 games before pinch hitting against the Brewers on Wednesday night. . SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm tightness) missed his second straight game.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) will start Saturday night, his second outing since missing 2 1/2 months with shoulder inflammation. He pitched three innings and gave up one run last Sunday against Atlanta in a no-decision.

Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.19) is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade. He took his first loss with the Pirates last Sunday, allowing five runs in three innings against Cincinnati.