General manager Neal Huntington poured cold water on speculation that outfielder Andrew McCutchen will be with the team on Opening Day.

“Andrew came in with the motivation to try to open some eyes and make it very tough to send him out, and he’s done that,” Huntington said. “But there’s still development that remains (to be done).”

• Despite some bumpy outings, lefty Donnie Veal, a Rule 5 pick, is a near-lock.

“We still like the upside,” Huntington said. “We do feel Veal is better equipped to handle a major-league situation right now than Evan (Meek) was a year ago. It would be a tough decision to not put him on the club.”

• Zach Duke had his worst outing of spring training yesterday in the Pirates’ 9-8 loss against the New York Yankees. Duke went 3.1 innings and allowed eight runs and nine hits, walked three and struck out one.

“It was a battle, it seemed, every at-bat,” Duke said. “The main thing is I got my work in, and nothing’s hurt.”

• Ryan Doumitand Adam LaRoche chased Yankees righty A.J. Burnett with back-to-back homers in the fifth inning. Doumit’s was a three-run shot. Eric Hinske hit a solo homer in the second inning.

• Andy Phillips (sore back) made his first appearance in a big-league game since March 7. But with just six days left in spring training, Phillips is a long-shot to win a bench job.

“It’s going to be awfully tough,” Huntington said.

• The Pirates paid $25,000 and accepted left-hander Kyle Bloom, a Rule 5 pick, back from the Detroit Tigers. Bloom pitched 5.1 innings this spring for the Tigers, allowing six hits and posting an 8.44 ERA.

• The Pirates have pulled their contract offer to free-agent reliever Will Ohman.

DIGITS

1.83 — Zach Duke’s ERA before starting yesterday’s game against the Yankees.

4.70 — Duke’s ERA after the game.

Additional Information:

Today’s game

Reds vs. Pirates

1:05 p.m. · McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla.

Radio/TV: None

Pirates starter: RHP Ross Ohlendorf

Reds starter: RHP Johnny Cueto

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