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Andy Oliver | Starting Pitcher

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age / DOB:  (26) / 12/3/1987
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 215
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Pirates sent LHP Andy Oliver outright to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Oliver, 26, posted a 4.05 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 138/112 K/BB ratio over 124 1/3 innings at Triple-A last season. A former second-round pick of the Tigers, Oliver will serve as organizational depth for the Pirates if he isn't picked up by another team. Mar 29 - 4:43 PM

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Player News

Date:
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Pirates optioned LHP Andy Oliver and C Tony Sanchez to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Neither cut is a surprise. Oliver is an option for a potential spot start down the line or possibly bullpen duty. It will take an injury for Sanchez to get a shot.
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 08:29:00 AM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Pirates acquired LHP Andy Oliver from the Tigers for C Ramon Cabrera.

Oliver was a second-round pick in 2009 and was once considered a fairly promising prospect. But he posted a 7.11 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in seven total starts between 2010 and 2011 with the Tigers and struggled this past year in the minor leagues. Perhaps the change of scenery will give his career a nice boost.
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 05:48:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

The Tigers plan to have left-hander Andy Oliver pitch out of the bullpen during spring training.

Oliver was a candidate for the fifth starter job during spring training this past season, but the Tigers were impressed with what they saw when he was moved to a relief role with Triple-A Toledo later in the year. "We liked what he did out of the bullpen," said Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski. "Some of our people still think he should start, but I would say coming into spring training based upon how we're set up right now he would come in as a bullpen guy." The hard-throwing 25-year-old has battled control problems during his career, but he could contend for a roster spot as a second left-hander behind Phil Coke.
Source: MLive.com
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 11:52:00 AM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

The Tigers have shifted Andy Oliver to the bullpen at Triple-A Toledo.

Oliver went 4-9 with a 5.18 ERA as a starter on the farm before hitting the disabled list prior to the All-Star break. That's all Detroit needed to see. "He's been out for a while," Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He's healthy. We weren't going to have a good time to stretch him out. The second thing is, we have often wondered how he would do in the bullpen ourselves, so we just figured it's a good time to make the transition for the rest of the year, see how it goes and take it from there." Oliver could be a September call-up, but he won't be fantasy relevant this season.
Source: M-Live.com
Sun, Jul 29, 2012 08:11:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

The Tigers haven't decided on a replacement for Doug Fister (side) but will watch Andy Oliver pitch on Sunday and Casey Crosby on Monday for Triple-A Toledo.

They could also pull Duane Below out of the bullpen to make the start. He tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Fister Saturday and picked up his first major league win. Oliver, Crosby and Below lost out on the No. 5 starter competition to Drew Smyly.
Source: Detroit Free Press on Twitter
Sun, Apr 8, 2012 10:09:00 AM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Tigers optioned LHP Andy Oliver to Triple-A Toledo.

The move means that Drew Smyly and Duane Below are the two men left standing for the final spot in the starting rotation. Oliver entered spring training with a shot, but struggled with his control and gave up six runs over just three innings against the Astros on Tuesday. The 24-year-old southpaw still has a promising future, but he needs more seasoning in the minors.
Thu, Mar 29, 2012 01:33:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Andrew Oliver was pounded for seven runs -- six earned -- in three innings by the Astros on Tuesday.

Oliver's bid for a rotation spot has taken a big hit with back-to-back poor outings. Drew Smyly looks like the best of the Tigers' internal options right now.
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 04:24:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Andrew Oliver gave up three runs and five walks in 3 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Twins.

A weak showing for the pitcher who had been the favorite to go north as Detroit's fifth starter. Drew Smyly is probably the better choice anyway, though we still wouldn't rule out a trade.
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 04:14:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

CBS Sports' Danny Knobler wrote Sunday that it's appearing less likely that the Tigers will trade for a starting pitcher.

With Jacob Turner likely out of the mix, Andrew Oliver and Drew Smyly are the top candidates for the last spot in Detroit's rotation. Oliver seems like the favorite for the position, but Smyly rates as the better fantasy sleeper. Oliver, a 23-year-old southpaw, went 8-12 with a 4.71 ERA in 26 starts last year at Triple-A.
Source: Danny Knobler on Twitter
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 04:38:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

After Jacob Turner struggled, Andrew Oliver worked four scoreless innings out of the pen Monday against the Mets.

Oliver has allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings to date (10 scoreless innings, if one includes his outing against Florida Southern), so he has to be the early favorite to serve as the Tigers' fifth starter. The team still might pick up a veteran prior to Opening Day.
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 04:58:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Working in relief of Jacob Turner, Andrew Oliver pitched three hitless innings Wednesday in the Tigers' 5-1 win over the Braves.

Oliver walked three and struck out three. This was his first official outing of the spring, but he also pitched three scoreless innings and struck out six against Florida Southern on Friday. Combined with Jacob Turner's weaker performance today, his case to become Detroit's fifth starter has already gotten stronger.
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 04:26:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Andrew Oliver pitched three scoreless innings and struck out six in the Tigers' 11-1 rout of Florida Southern on Friday.

Jacob Turner looks like the favorite right now, but Oliver is also in the mix for the fifth spot in Detroit's rotation. If neither youngster steps up this spring, then the Tigers might again look to make a trade.
Fri, Mar 2, 2012 04:11:00 PM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Tigers pitching prospect Andy Oliver has posted a 5.84 ERA in six Arizona Fall League starts.

The former second-round pick has yielded a .286 opponents' batting average and has tallied more walks than strikeouts. Oliver has been highly effective in the past against left-handed batters, but it's hard to see him having success as a major league starter at any point in the near future. The 23-year-old southpaw went 8-12 with a 4.71 ERA in 26 starts this year at Triple-A.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 09:20:00 AM
Andy Oliver - S - Pirates

Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports that the Tigers are dangling Andy Oliver in trade talks.

Oliver has posted a 4.64 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Toledo this season but has also struck out 102 in 116 2/3 innings. He's posted a 4.4 BB/9 rate, as walks are always a concern with him, but he has some definite upside. The Tigers have been linked to Hiroki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis and Doug Fister, among others, though Kuroda reportedly might be off the table for them.
Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 04:03:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Russell Martin
2Chris Stewart
1B1Ike Davis
2Gaby Sanchez
2B1Neil Walker
2Josh Harrison
3Michael Martinez
SS1Jordy Mercer
2Clint Barmes
3B1Pedro Alvarez
2Brent Morel
LF1Starling Marte
CF1Andrew McCutchen
RF1Gregory Polanco
2Travis Snider
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Francisco Liriano
2Gerrit Cole
3Charlie Morton
4Edinson Volquez
5Jeff Locke
6Vance Worley
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Mark Melancon
2Ernesto Frieri
3Tony Watson
4Justin Wilson
5Jared Hughes
6Stolmy Pimentel
7Jeanmar Gomez