Tyler Yates has been pretty solid out of the bullpen this season for the Pirates. He has pitched in 22 games for the Bucs this season and he is 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Yates has good stuff as he has only allowed 14 hits in 21.2 innings this season but he better improve his control or that ERA is going to go up big time. Yates has walked 18 batters this season and that is unacceptable.

The Pirates have placed catcher Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left thumb which will cause him to miss at least the next four weeks. Doumit has played in 29 games this season for the Pirates and he is 36 for 103 (.350 avg, .955 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 5 homers and 15 RBIs. Ronny Paulino will take over as the starting catcher while Doumit is out. He has played in 25 games this season and he is 17 for 78 (.218 avg, .556 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Raul Chavez has been recalled from the minors to replace Paulino as the backup catcher on the Pirates. He hit a double in his only at bat this season for the Pirates and he scored a run and knocked one in. The 35-year old righty swinging Chavez played in 26 games in AAA ball this season and he was 26 for 85 (.306 avg, .846 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 13 RBIs.

The Pirates have acquired 32-year old righty swinging outfielder Jason Michaels and cash from the Indians for a player to be named later. Michaels played in 21 games for the Indians this season and he was 12 for 58 (.207 avg, .534 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 9 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Michaels has now played in 632 games in his major league career and he is 451 for 1,627 (.277 avg, .764 OPS) with 257 runs scored, 37 homers, 203 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. This was a solid move for the Pirates as Michaels will be a solid player off the bench for them.

21-year old righty swinging outfielder Andrew McCutchen is just biding his time in AAA ball until the Pirates think he’s ready and make room for him by likey trading Jason Bay or Xavier Nady. He is the Pirates’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. McCutchen has played in 31 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 36 for 124 (.290 avg, .897 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 17 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He also has good plate discipline as he has only whiffed 17 times so far this season. When he gets to the majors he will likely have a very long and productive stay.

CF Nate McLouth and RF Xavier Nady are carrying the offense of the Pirates. McLouth has been fantastic as the leadoff hitter for the Pirates this year. He has played in 31 games this season and he is 41 for 127 (.323 avg, 1.017 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 7 homers, 25 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Xavier Nady has also been smashing the baseball for the Pirates. He has played in 31 games for the Pirates this season and he is 41 for 118 (.347 avg, .948 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 30 RBIs. Neither of these guys has proven that they can sustain success like this for a full season but the Pirates will be depending on it.