The Penguins will open defense of the Stanley Cup on October 13th against the Washington Capitals. Before that they will be going  to Washington to meet the president.  The White House says President Obama will honor the Stanley Champions on October 6th.  This will probably be one of the last team he will honor in his presidency.

It will a generic team that faces the Carolina Panthers tomorrow night. Coach Mike Tomlin says that Ben Roethlisberger,  Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton  L’veon Bell, and DeAngelo Williams will sit for the final preseason game. On defense Cam Heyward will sit because of his high ankle sprain.  Also sitting will be Stephon Tuit, Ryan Shazier, William Gay, and Mike Mitchell.   The Steelers have 75-players on the roster.  22 players must go to get down to the 53-players season roster.  The cuts must be made by Saturday at 4pm.

The Pirates  sent outfielder Tito Polo and left hand pitcher Stephan Tarpley to the New  York Yankees to complete the Ivan Nova trade. Polo was playing a low A West Virginia. Tarpley was obtained in the 2015 Travis Snyder trade with Baltimore.

The Pirates will try to avoid a sweep as they conclude their road trip tonight in Chicago.  Pirates will pitch Ryan Vogelsong (3-3).  The Cubs will throw Jason Hammel    (13-7). The Pirates made some  roster moves on Tuesday.   They recalled infielder Alen Hanson and lefthander  Kevin Marte from Indianapolis.  To make room for them on the roster, the Pirates optioned pitchers Jameson Taillon and Steven Brault to AA Bristol.  That is the only minor league team still playing. Pitcher Kyle Lobstein has been designated for assignment.  The Major League Rosters expand to 40-players tommorrow.   WBVP-WMBA’s coverage of tonight’s Pirates-Cubs game begins right after Coaches Corner.

We are about three weeks from the start of training camp for The Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins. The first matter is the World Cup in September.  The Penguins have a half a dozen players participated.  Next is the condition  of the injured players. the most noted is defenseman Trevor Daley. He broke his ankle during the playoffs.  He is expected to be ready for training camp.  Winger Phil Kessel had surgery on his hand in July.  The team is taking a wait and see attitude on him being ready for the season opener against Washington on October 13th.

As we begin action tonight, the National League Wild Card race has changed again. San Francisco has the top spot. They lead the Cardinals, who beat the Brewers 6-5, by two and a half games. With the Pirates lost the Mets win over the Marlins,  the battle for the second spot looks like this. The Pirates trail the Cardinals by a game and half. The Mets  and the Marlins trail by two and a half games.

For the second time this season, Pirates Ace Gerit Cole is on the DL. This time it is inflamation  of his pitching elbow.  At earliest he can return is September 9th. Rookie pitcher Tyler Glasnow  has been activated from the DL and  assigned to AAA Indianapolis.  The rosters will expand to 40 on Thursday. Glasnow is likely to joined the Pirates at that time.

It is the first week of high school football. It is also the first week of action for the  local  universities.  Pitt opens it’s season at Heinz Field Saturday  against Villanova.  WBVP-WMBA airtime is 11:30-am.  Kickoff is at 1:30.  Penn State hosts Kent State Saturday afternoon.  West Virginia hosts  Missouri.  Locally, Geneva begins 2016 on the road.  They will be at Frosburg. WBVP-WMBA airtime is 6:30 Saturday afternoon.

After sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pirates go 90 miles south to open a three game series against the first place Cubs.  The Pirates have recalled Steven Brault from Indianapolis to pitch tonight.  He will face the Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. Brault will take the spot of  Gerrit Cole. Cole is in Los Angeles to have his right elbow examined. Airtime for tonights Pirates-Cubs game is 7:40 with the first pitch at 8:05 on WBVP-WMBA