The Latest Breaking News from Derek Shelton

BOSTON — Should this incredible run continue, Bryan Reynolds may opt out of the flight home.

CINCINNATI — When Rob Zastryzny and the Pirates' other relievers walked from the dugout to the bullpen at Great American Ball Park late Thursday afternoon, the 31-year-old turned and took a look around.

CINCINNATI — The magic that marked the Pirates’ opening day victory against the Reds did not return. There were no dashes around the basepaths, no crucial, late-inning plays. In fact, the flicker of offense that existed at the beginning of this one didn’t last long at all.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A noticeable storyline of spring training thus far has been the decent amount of competency found in the Pirates' starting rotation.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Connor Joe's journeyman career wasn't projected to transpire as such, at least not initially.

So what does the baseball world think of the job Terry Francona did managing the low-budget Cleveland Guardians to another American League Central division title and a wild-card matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday afternoon?

PITTSBURGH — Prior to Wednesday’s season finale, which turned out to be a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Pirates manager Derek Shelton admitted that he gets frustrated too, sometimes.

CINCINNATI — When the Pirates acquired Johan Oviedo as part of the Jose Quintana-Chris Stratton trade, there was an acknowledged need to be patient. General manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton also told anyone who asked about the gigantic right-hander that they viewed him as a capable major league…

He moved past Alex Rodriguez into fourth place on the career list.

MILWAUKEE — The Pirates saw a one-run lead dissolve Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers without allowing an earned run.

Last Friday, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said the quiet part out loud: "I think we are at a moment in time that progress should not be measured entirely by wins and losses."