The Pittsburgh Pirates [3-4] will play the Detroit Tigers [6-1] in the second of a three game series tonight at 7:05 p.m.
Last game out:
The Pirates won its Opening Day game by a 5-4 score in front of 39,933 fans, the largest-ever crowd to attend a regular season game at PNC Park. The loss represented the first of the year for the Tigers.
Josh Harrison hit the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning into the right-center field seats for a home run. Corey Hart ultimately provided the game-winning run with his 1000th career hit, a two run home run over the left-center field fence.
Gerrit Cole pitched six-plus innings allowing, three hits, one run, walking two batters and striking out eight batters on 94 pitches, 63 of which were strikes.
“The past two games we’ve played you saw one of the best at-bats all year with Braun versus Watson Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee and then you saw Cabrera versus Cole yesterday,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Cabrera has the presence to be thrown pitches at 97 miles per hour, a slider at 91 and a change up and looked to me and went ‘wow what a slider’ and ‘wow what a changeup’ and he’s fouling them off. Those at-bats right there, I hope that everybody in the park that is a fan of baseball enjoyed those because those are special.”
The Tigers scored three runs off closer Mark Melancon in the ninth inning however Nick Castellanos grounded into a double play and Victor Martinez struck out to end the game.
Tonight’s starters:
The Pirates will send A.J. Burnett [0-0, 3.38 ERA] to the mound to face Shane Greene [1-0, 0.00 ERA]. Burnett is 6-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 11 career starts against the Detroit Tigers and has won five of his past six decisions against them. Burnett id 23-16 with a 3.87 ERA in his 51 career interleague starts.
“A.J.’s also had success against these guys,” said Hurdle. “I think he’s going to rely upon the games he’s experienced and stay with his strengths, fastballs to both sides of the plate and comebacker to the left-handers in, keep the right-handers stood-up and honest by throwing the breaking ball and change up.”
Greene is coming off eight innings as part of a 7-1 win Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. Over 85 pitches, Greene surrendered four hits and allowed a run on one walk and five strikeouts. In seven road appearances last season, Greene was 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Right-handed hitters are batting .236 against Greene.
Hurdle’s thoughts:
Starling Marte will be held out of tonight’s lineup. Marte is batting .115 on the season with one home run and two RBI. Marte has been hitless in each of the past two games.
“He’s just being challenged right now,” said Hurdle. “We’ve seen Starling get in some funks and he’s been able to work his way out of it. One of the ways you help him is sit him down and give him a chance to catch his breath and have a work day.”
Gregory Polanco will move from right to left field in this contest and Corey Hart will bat fifth and play right field.
“Hart is not a guy who’s splits are dramatic against left-handed pitching one way or the other,” Hurdle said. “He’s a low-ball hitter and that might play into this guy [Greene] being a guy that works down in the zone as well.”
Hurdle also provided a status update on pitcher Charlie Morton. He referred to Morton’s progress as “incremental”. Morton pitched a simulated game last week and his biggest focal point is staying connected over his backside and repeating his delivery.
Tonight’s lineups:
Pirates
1. Josh Harrison 3B
2. Gregory Polanco LF
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Neil Walker 2B
5. Corey Hart RF
6. Pedro Alvarez 1B
7. Francisco Cervelli C
8. Jordy Mercer SS
9. A.J. Burnett P
Tigers
1. Rajai Davis CF
2. Ian Kinsler 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. J.D. Martinez RF
5. Yoenis Cespedes LF
6. Nick Castellanos 3B
7. Alex Avila C
8. Jose Iglesias SS
9. Shane Greene
Final word: Hurdle has this to say when asked about the Tigers combination of both speed and power.
“They’ve got a lot of usable speed around there, they have a lot of guys who can go. Ian Kinsler as good of a backyard ball player as there is in the game. They have a very solid offense with the unique combination of speed and power that plays.”
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire/USA Today
