Let’s take a look at some of the latest MLB news and notes, including some interesting happenings with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays.
MLB news: Pittsburgh Pirates fans don’t get a free pass on Good Friday
Sorry, Pirates fans, but if you were hoping that you could live a little before, during, and after the home opener at PNC Park, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh made sure you remembered that April 7 was not just any Friday during the year, season opener or not.
In a statement from the Diocese, it partially reads, “We have received inquiries about whether the Church will dispense from fast and abstinence on Good Friday because of the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener this Friday, April 7 … We wish the Pirates well, and we will be rooting for them with all of Pittsburgh. But we also need to hold to the priority importance of Good Friday. It is an essential part of the most sacred time of year for all Christians. Nothing should take precedence.”
Good Friday or not, 39,167 fans packed PNC Park to watch the Pirates moves to 5-2 on the season with a 13-9 win over the Chicago White Sox.
St. Louis Cardinals news: No blue jerseys yet
If you’re a St. Louis Cardinals fan and looking forward to seeing your team in their blue uniforms this weekend, get ready for disappointment.
#stlcards won't be wearing their victory blue uniform Saturday against Milwaukee. For the second consecutive year, the manufacturer has fallen behind on deliveries and #Cardinals do not have all of their uniforms available to them. They'll wear the road grays.
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) April 7, 2023
And red helmets.
The Cardinals wore their home whites during their opening series against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, but it looks like it will be gray for the foreseeable future as they stay on the road to face Milwaukee and the Colorado Rockies over the next six games.
MLB news: Tampa Bay Rays continue historic start to season
With a 9-5 win on Friday, the Rays moved to 7-0 on the season and continued their run as MLB’s only undefeated team. They also did it in convincing fashion, opening the argument about if they are truly the best team in baseball, even with a small sample size.
THE RAYS
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 8, 2023
most consecutive wins, all by 4+ runs, to start a season:
1884 St. Louis Maroons: 13
2023 Rays: 7 ** active streak
Any time you can compare a team to the 1884 Maroons, it’s a great day. By the way, those 1884 Maroons finished 94-19 with Fred Dunlap pacing the squad with a .412/.448/.621 slash line in 478 plate appearances.