Good afternoon from a rainy PNC Park where tonight the Pirates (15-20) look to continue their win streak against the Cardinals (18-18). Edinson Volquez (1-3, 4.19 ERA) looks to turn things around against Lance Lynn (4-1, 3.51 ERA).
Andrew McCutchen is not in tonight’s lineup. The clubhouse was closed before the lineup was posted. More updates on this after the game.
Wandy to Come Off DL
Clint Hurdle has officially announced that Wandy Rodriguez will start on Thursday in Milwaukee. It will be his first start since being placed on the DL on 4/20.
Hurdle’s Quotes
On turning things around after a 10-18 April: “I’m never surprised by success. I’m not surprised when we play well. I’m not surprised when we get on a roll. I’m not surprised when we do good things. I’m more surprised when we don’t. That being said, we’re dealing with human beings. We’re at the Major League level, you do well here or you don’t move up. You stay here until you don’t do well and you figure out how to do well again. That’s basically what our April was all about.”
On what Volquez can do to right the ship: “He’s had a couple of challenges with some front side quickness which has gotten him out of the strike zone more than he’d like to be. He was able to pull them, bring them back in and truth be told, at the end of the day, he’s given up some multi-run homers. There’s been a pitch sequence in play where if you throw a pitch and think it’s a strike, but the count goes to 2-1 instead of 1-2 and the next pitch is hit. Not excuses, but the reality of dealing with it. Sometimes, there’s a very fine line between success and not being successful.”
Other notes
— In his first nine games this month, Ike Davis has hit .345 (10-for-29) while producing a .424 on-base percentage. He has gone 7-for-11 in his last three games and has reached safely 10 times in his last 17 plate appearances. In addition, Davis is hitting .317 (13-for-41 with six RBI in 13 games at PNC Park since being acquired by the Pirates on 4/18.
— In 56 career games against the Cardinals, Jose Tabata is batting .350 (70-for-200) with 13 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 17 RBI. He has gone 19-for-41 (.463) in his last 12 games overall vs. St. Louis and has recorded a career average of .366 (30-for-82) against the Redbirds in 26 games at PNC Park (the Pirates are 17-9 in those games).
— Bucco batters have been hit by a pitch a Major League-leading 21 times this season. Neil Walker has been plunked five times in his last nine games and leads the National League with seven HBP’s (Starling Marte is tied for third with four).
Tonight’s Pirates Lineup
Tabata 7
Harrison 9
Walker 4
Alvarez 5
Marte 8
Davis 3
T. Sanchez 2
Mercer 6
Volquez 1
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
