Andrew McCutchen openly admits that he was not 100 percent at the beginning of last season. His leg injury was especially difficult because that is where he gets his power from.
This season McCutchen made it a point to work on his legs in the off-season and it has served him well.
McCutchen struck again in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays hitting an opposite field home run. He has now homered in three consecutive games and four of the past five.
That would not be enough offense on this day though as the Blue Jays won the game by a 3-2 score.
Marte continues offensive production
Starling Marte had a good second half when it came to hitting the ball though a hand injury sapped his power. The contact has continued during Spring Training and he had a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
Marte now has nine hits in his last 17 at-bats.
If Marte can stay healthy this season, his contribution could be a large one. On defense his arm is a big threat and he won a Gold Glove Award last season. Offensively if his power can return with regularity and he can become more patient at the plate, then Marte could be a threat in all aspects of the game.
Marte was able to bat cleanup for a large portion of the 2015 season but manager Clint Hurdle stated later in the season that he is not supposed to hit there.
With Jung Ho Kang’s return date currently unknown, Marte could be the interim answer at the clean up spot though he could very well bat third with McCutchen recently batting second in the order.
Luebke gets loss
Cory Luebke took the loss for the Pirates, his first on the spring by allowing the game winning run to score in the fifth inning.
Luebke’s hamstring injury he had at the start of Spring Training put him behind and likely means he faces long odds when it comes to making the major league roster.
He was signed as a non-roster invitee and invited to Spring Training.
Luebke’s final line was an inning pitched with the earned run on two hits and a strikeout.
Minor matters
Ryan Vogelsong, Mark Melancon and Tony Watson each threw at Pirate City Sunday. Vogelsong threw 79 pitches in five innings in the game which was against Pirates minor leaguers. Melancon and Watson threw 16 and 14 pitches respectively.
Up Next
The Pirates will face the Atlanta Braves in Bradenton as well as the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers Monday. Francisco Liriano will throw in the home game against Jhoulys Chacin. Trey Haley, Jorge Rondon and Eric O’Flaherty also are scheduled to pitch in that contest. Juan Nicasio will face the Twins’ Tommy Milone with Neftali Feliz and Jim Fuller expected to comprise the Pirates bullpen in that game. The Pirates-Braves game will be carried by 93.7 the Fan in Pittsburgh.
