Rain delay for Pirates-Rays

By Alan Dell

Greetings from McKechnie Field. We are currently in a rain delay for Sunday’s game between the Pirates and Tampa Rays. The weather forecast does not look promising so it’s questionable whether that first pitch will be thrown.

Daniel McCutchen, who is battling for a spot in the Pirates starting rotation, is scheduled to start for the Bucs. Andy Sonnanstine, in a somewhat similar position for the Rays, though the fifth spot belongs to Wade Davis, is slated to start for Tampa Bay.

Closer Octavio Dotel, the Pirates key off season acquisition, is supposed to make his Grapefruit League debut after missing time because of an oblique strain.

He is scheduled to follow Vinnie Chulk, but things could change depending on the weather and he could be moved ahead. He threw 24 pitches in a minor league game on Thursday and looked fine, according to the Pirates.