BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates won’t have their opening-day roster determined for at least a few more days.

Neal Huntington said Saturday the Pirates aren’t getting down to the 25-man limit before leaving Florida tomorrow. They will instead carry extra players to Houston for a two-game exhibition series with the Astros on Monday and Tuesday.

The Pirates still have 36 players in camp and need to drop 11 by Thursday when they open the regular season against the Reds at Cincinnati.

The extra players were needed Saturday as the Pirates played split-squad exhibition games, defeating the Phillies 5-3 at LECOM Park and losing to the Red Sox 12-3 in Fort Myers, Fla.

“We’ll carry a couple of the extra decisions to the very end,” Huntington said. “You hate to do that to young men because they’re trying to figure out their plans, and wondering: Are they making the club. But you always want to protect yourself in case of injury. You always want to protect yourself in case of an unexpected move. I would assume we’ll make the final few moves there in Houston.”

The final decisions appear to Patrick Kivlehan, Kevin Newman, Jose Osuna, Pablo Reyes and JB Shuck for two bench spots and Steven Brault, Nick Burdi, Rookie Davis, Nick Kingham, Tyler Lyons, Brandon Maurer and Dovydas Neverauskas for two bullpen jobs.

Kingham is out of minor-league options and would have to clear waivers to be sent down. As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Burdi must be offered back to the Twins if he does not make the team.

Burdi has allowed just two runs in 9 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts.

“He’s had a great camp,” Huntington said. “If that’s the direction we end up going in, it’s hard to argue that it was because he’s a Rule 5 pick. He’s shown a power fastball. He’s shown a power slider. He’s shown the ability to throw both pitches for put-away and for strikes. He’s had a good spring and has done nothing but help his case to make this club.”

• Jordan Lyles did nothing to lose what seems to be a firm grip on the fifth starter’s job, allowing three runs in five innings against the Phillies. Lyles struck out five and walked none.

The Pirates have not officially declared Lyles the No. 5 starter, but he seems to be their choice over Brault and Kingham. Lyles is scheduled to pitch a six-inning simulated game Wednesday in Bradenton, then join the team in Cincinnati that night.

The Pirates don't need a fifth starter until April 7 against the Reds at PNC Park, the ninth game of the season.

Lyles has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in 16 innings of exhibition play. The right-hander said he met one of his objectives this spring, which was improving his pitch sequencing.

“I feel like I’m in a good place right now,” Lyles said.

The Pirates’ top four relievers – Richard Rodriguez, Kyle Crick, Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez --- finished with one scoreless inning each.

Corey Dickerson had two hits, including a two-run home run.

Oneil Cruz, the Pirates’ prized 6-foot-6 shortstop, hit a long homer to right field. He also started two double plays. Cruz will begin the season at high-A Bradenton.

Opening-day starter Jameson Taillon had a rocky final outing of spring training, getting touched for four runs and eight hits in four innings by the Red Sox. He pitched in just three Grapefruit League games -- his other three starts were in simulated games – and allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 13 innings.

Third base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes accounted for the Pirates’ runs with a three-run home run.

Starling Marte missed his second game in a row with lower back stiffness. Clint Hurdle said Marte should be ready to play in at least one of the games in Houston.

Jacob Stallings did not play for a third straight day because of tightness in his neck but is expected to play tomorrow against the Orioles at Sarasota, Fla.

The Pirates finish Grapefruit League play with the game against the Orioles on Sunday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Trevor Williams will start against Andrew Cashner, and Kingham and Brault are also expected to pitch.

PERROTTO’S VIEWS

My best semi-educated guess on the final roster decisions are that Reyes, the most lovable man in baseball, and Newman get the two bench spots while Kingham and Burdi land the two bullpen jobs.

The Pirates figure to start the season with a 12-man pitching staff and a five-man bench, giving them extra time to determine whether Reyes or Newman is the better utility-infielder option. Meanwhile, the Pirates aren’t going to risk losing Kingham and Burdi, nor should they. Both have legitimate claims to being on the opening-day roster.

Lyles hasn’t been particularly good this spring but also hasn’t been horrible. I do think he’ll be on a short leash, though, in the regular season and the Pirates will turn to Kingham or Brault as the fifth starter by mid-May, if Lyles is struggling.

It was the first time I saw Cruz play defense and I must admit he looked much smoother at shortstop than I anticipated. Time will tell if he can play the position in the major leagues but, off a first impression, I can’t rule it out.

Taillon hasn’t been particularly sharp this spring. However, he has reached the stage of his career where Grapefruit League results are no indication of how he will pitch in the regular season. No need to worry.

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