Yankees-Pirates live updates, score and analysis of Wednesday opener

NEW YORK – Heading into Wednesday’s long doubleheader day of live coverage, manager Aaron Boone provided an update on Giancarlo Stanton.

But the short answer is, the Yankees still don’t know when he’ll return to their lineup.

On the injured list since April 25, with two separate right calf strains (he was injured again in early June), the slugging DH is a couple of weeks into a running program.

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Stanton is also hitting indoors off the Trajekt machine that simulates MLB pitchers, but he is not running the bases as yet.

“I don’t have a timeline, I don’t know when he gets to the end of that and what we do to get him back,’’ Boone said before Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader opener against the Pirates.

“But I feel like he’s moving in a good direction,’’ said Boone. “I just don’t know if that’s a couple of weeks from now, a few weeks from now, whatever it is. But he is getting much closer to that point.’’

Meanwhile, we’re also waiting for Aaron Judge (first right rib fracture) to be scheduled for another follow-up MRI to determine when he’ll be cleared to begin baseball activity.

OK, here we go, Mitch Keller vs. Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole in the afternoon opener at Yankee Stadium.

Follow here for live coverage of game one of Wednesday's doubleheader:

Cole grinds through

Still 2-0 Pirates as the Yanks prepare to send up 4-5-6 in their order.

Cole strands a runner on second with one out, with a balk call that the Yanks were very upset about. Cole and Boone wanted an explanation, after second base ump (and crew chief) Adrian Johnson made the call.

Perhaps Cole broke his hands after coming set, not sure. Whatever it was, Cole and company were not happy.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh goes to the bullpen for Carmen Mlodzinski, a righty, after Keller's scoreless five, and Angel Chivilli is warming up for the Yanks, with Cole at 82 pitches.

Stranded

The Yanks leave two runners on base (this time on singles) again, as Rice strikes out and Jones flies out.

Still 2-0, Pittsburgh, entering the sixth.

Rice unsuccessfully challenged a Keller 3-2 sinker, and the Yanks are out of ABS challenges.

Meanwhile, Keller - who entered with a 5.14 ERA in 19 starts - is looking like his old self again. He's coming off two tough starts, yielding eight runs in nine total innings vs. Washington and Atlanta.

Not perfect

Middle of the fifth, and it's suddenly 2-0, Pirates.

Cole retired the first 14 Pirates before Nick Gonzales rifled a two-out single to left (1-0 curveball) followed by a Jacob Gonzalez homer to right off a 1-1 changeup.

Then, Cole finished by striking out the side. He has 9 Ks in five innings, but once again, a homer (so far) has hurt him, and the Yanks (so far) have given him nothing offensively.

Missed chance

After Spencer Jones and Cody Bellinger open the home fourth with walks, Keller gets out of it quickly and it's still 0-0.

It started with an unproductive AB by Jasson Dominguez (fly out), who doesn't get the runners over. Jazz and Caballero follow with Ks.

Jazz also cost the Yanks an ABS challenge, guessing wrong on a 1-2 curveball.

12-for-12

Without a strikeout, Cole gets the side in order in the fourth, on a groundout and two soft flyballs.

He's at 47 pitches after four. In the second game, Max Fried's max will be about 60 pitches.

Incidentally, Will Warren (who was supposed to start Tuesday night's rained out game) is now expected to pitch Friday's series opener at Philly, followed by Cam Schlittler and Ryan Weathers.

Robbed

With Austin Wells (HBP) at first base, Ben Rice's bid for a hit - a sinking liner to left-center field - is turned into an inning-ending, diving catch by Bryan Reynolds.

No score after three innings as Cole faces the top of Pittsburgh's order again.

9-for-9

Through the first time in the Pirates order, Cole is perfect - already with six strikeouts in this scoreless game.

Pittsburgh has more hits (923) than any MLB team this year, and they're second in runs scored. And they've maintained a pretty good offense even with the dynamic Oneil Cruz out since June 8 with a fractured hand.

One reason is Esmerlyn Valdez, who enters today with at least one extra-base hit and one RBI in each of his last eight games, the first Pirate to accomplish that since Kevin Young in May 1999.

Good start for Cole

That's four straight Ks for Cole as he strikes out the side in the second inning. No score here.

And the Pirates are already down an ABS challenge, as Ryan O'Hearn guesses wrong on a 1-2, 98-mph fastball confirmed as strike three.

Cole also fanned Esmerlyn Valdez on a 96-mph fastball and got Nick Gonzales on an 0-2 curve.

First impressions

No score after one, as Cole fans one in a 1-2-3 opening frame.

He's coming off a really good outing vs. the Dodgers last Friday night, which turned on that middle-of-the-plate slider Max Muncy drove for a two-run homer in the seventh inning of a 2-1 L.A. win.

To that point, Cole was a lot more like his vintage version, in his 10th start of the season since his return from Tommy John surgery rehab, with a lot of life on the fastball.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees-Pirates live updates, score and analysis of Wednesday opener