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CHICAGO -- Even with some camp battles settled, and some pleasant surprises making the trip from Bradenton to Chicago, the Pirates have not publicly finalized their roster and lineup on the eve of opening day.
According to Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton, those last decisions “are as close to being made as they can be.” But very little has been admitted publicly. The starting centerfielder and last remaining bullpen spot seem to be the only decisions left unsettled. But, although it’s not a difficult roster to forecast, much will be left up to speculation until the club announces its final decisions Thursday morning.
Chad Kuhl will start against Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Lefty Tyler Anderson pitches Saturday against Jake Arrieta and Mitch Keller faces Zach Davies on Sunday. Despite experimenting with the pitcher hitting in the No. 8 spot in the order, Shelton also confirmed that Kuhl will, in fact, be batting ninth.
Outside of that, Kevin Newman was named the starting shortstop. Besides figuring that JT Brubaker will start the opener of the next series Monday in Cincinnati, the lineup seems to be the easy group to predict.
Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds will likely make up the top of the order, as they’ve had most of the spring, and play second base, third and left field, respectively. Colin Moran will likely follow at first base, with right-fielder Gregory Polanco, Newman and catcher Jacob Stallings batting behind him.
The starting center fielder has already been informed that he’d gotten the job, but the club won’t announce publicly whether that’s Anthony Alford or Dustin Fowler until a few hours before first pitch. Phillip Evans, Erik Gonzalez and catcher Michael Perez should make up the rest of the major league bench.
The bullpen group made up the last of the camp battles at the end of spring. And it’s the least certain group in the offseason’s final moments.
David Bednar and Luis Oviedo have been publicly named to the big league club. Richard Rodriguez, Kyle Crick and Chris Stratton will likely be the other right-handed locks in the bullpen. Sam Howard will most certainly be the club’s only left-handed reliever after Chasen Shreve was reassigned to the minors Monday.
That leaves five pitchers -- Duane Underwood Jr., Michael Feliz, Clay Holmes, Wil Crowe and Trevor Cahill -- for four spots left on the opening day roster. Underwood and Feliz are on the 40-man roster with no options remaining. The others can be reassigned to minors camp or the taxi squad.
Todd Frazier, Brian Goodwin, Chase De Jong and Shreve should make up that taxi squad with the pitcher that falls out of that group.
MORE FROM SHELTON
• The restrictions for players, coaches and staff for COVID-19 will reportedly be loosened when teams hit an 85 percent threshold for vaccinations. Despite this incentive, Shelton said he is not encouraging his players either way and will leave that decision up to the individuals.
“They have to do what they feel is best for themselves and their family,” Shelton said.