The Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at PNC Park. The Pirates begin the night 6-1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central Division. They are 30-29 overall. The Dodgers are 29-30, and 2-1/2 games behind Arizona in the NL West. Joe Musgrove will make his third start of the season for the Pirates. First pitch is 7:05pm. Pre-game on WISR 680am will be 6:40pm.
The Major League Baseball Amateur Draft began last night in New Jersey. The Pirates selected outfielder Travis Swaggerty with the 10th overall selection in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. Swaggerty hit .296 with 13 HRs, 38 RBIs and a .526 slugging percentage in 57 games as a junior this season for the University of South Alabama. Swaggerty was the Pirates’ first top-10 overall pick since outfielder Austin Meadows went No. 9 overall in 2013. The Pirates believe Swaggerty could project to be a 20-homer, 20-steal threat with his power and athleticism.
The Pirates also selected two high school pitchers last night as well.