Worth noting

• Kyle McPherson was down to hurl the first four innings of Friday night's game against the Orioles, but had to leave after a 28-pitch and three-run third. McPherson was still pleased with the work, especially with the feel for his curveball.

"No one wants to see a three-spot go up. But I was confident throwing the curve ahead or behind in the count," McPherson said of his signature pitch. "Really, all my pitches felt good."

"He showed three Major League pitches at times," said manager Clint Hurdle, citing the changeup along with the curve and fastball.

• Russell Martin (sore shoulder) had been penciled in to resume catching on Saturday, but instead will do so in one of Sunday's split-squad road games. He threw to second base in Friday's drills and reported no issues.

• Also delayed a day is Charlie Morton's first batting-practice session on the slow road back from Tommy John surgery in June. Morton will now throw on Monday, likely only a logistical concession to the fact the team and staff will be on the road at two sites on Sunday.

• Dave Arrigo, the Pirates' team photographer, is already warming up his shutter finger for Sunday's photo day in Pirate City. He'll be shooting the approximately 130 Minor Leaguers - six times each, once hatless, then in turn wearing the caps of all five teams in the Bucs' system (Indianapolis, Altoona, Bradenton, West Virginia and Jamestown). Gotta have all possible assignments covered, you know.