BRADENTON, Fla. – Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole pitched into the fifth inning Sunday in a 6-4 loss against the Minnesota Twins, but likely will need one more start in Florida before joining Pittsburgh's rotation.
Cole worked 42/3 innings and gave up two runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out four.
"Whatever is going to happen will be the best for everybody," Duffey said. "I haven't done myself any favors, I know that much. Whatever happens, happens.
"It's nice to be squaring up some balls and hitting them hard," Joyce said.
"He doesn't have much interest in playing Triple-A for us and I don't believe he has any interest in playing Triple-A for anybody else," Ryan said.
Twins: LHP Tommy Milone will start against Boston today. He has clinched the No. 4 spot in the rotation and will make his season debut April 8 against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
Pirates: Minor league LHP Steven Brault will start against the Yankees today in Tampa. LHP Jeff Locke, who's one of three pitchers vying for two spots in the rotation, will pitch in the controlled environment of a minor league game.