Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (29-31) look to continue their climb up the NL Central standings against the Brewers (36-26). Edinson Volquez (3-4, 4.25ERA) will oppose Matt Garza (3-4, 4.42 ERA).
— Jeff Locke was scratched from his start in AAA Indianapolis last night. Manager Clint Hurdle says the team is “working through” their short term rotation plans. Tomorrow is supposed to be Charlie Morton’s spot in the rotation and Gerrit Cole is supposed to go on Monday, but a change could be made. Hurdle said Locke to the rotation is “Something to ponder.”
— The Pirates put up 15 runs in Friday’s series opener against the NL Central leaders. Jordy Mercer believes a good start like that is just what the team needs to make a run at the Brewers this weekend.
“Yeah, it’s important,” said Mercer. “It’s a division team and we know that they are at the top and that’s where we want to be, so we got to keep doing this to get there, so it was a good win for us.”
Hurdle’s Quotes
On what to expect for a solid Volquez start: “#1- Command of the fastball. #2- Downhill angle. #3- Getting the breaking ball and the changeup in play early, being able to throw them in offensive counts. Expanding the zone with two strikes. He was able to move a tick forward in all of those areas against the Dodgers. We saw him early make pitches, hit the glove. We’re working to the point where he’s not hitting the glove, he’s got a plan B. He’s got another way to attack, he’s got another way to go and still give us an opportunity to win.”
Other Notes
— Andrew McCutchen has hit 17 home runs against the Brewers since the beginning of the 2010 season, which is most among all players vs. Milwaukee in that time.
— The Pirates lead all Major League teams with a .277 batting average and a .351 on-base percentage since 5/1. They also lead all N.L. teams with 326 hits and have posted a 19-15 record in that time, tied with Miami for the second-best mark in the league behind San Francisco (23-10).
— According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Russell Martin is the second Pirates catcher since 1920 (the first season that RBI were recorded) to go 3-for-3 or better with at least three runs scored and four RBI in a game; the other was Ryan Doumit, who went 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBI at Wrigley Field on September 30, 2009.
This Afternoon’s Lineups
First pitch is set for 4:05.
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
