Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (53-47) look to take the series against the Dodgers (56-46). Francisco Liriano (1-7, 4.43 ERA) will oppose Dan Haren (8-7, 4.30 ERA).
Injury Update
— Starling Marte is not in tonight’s starting lineup and is not listed as a player off the bench. He is currently undergoing concussion testing. If he fails those tests, he will be placed on the 7-day concussion DL and Brent Morel will be called up from AAA Indianapolis.
“We’re still going through the appropriate testing on Starling and we have a plan B in case the testing doesn’t come back well,” said manager Clint Hurdle.
— Pedro Alvarez felt “discomfort in his left knee” after hitting a double in the fourth inning of last night’s game and was removed. He is not in tonight’s starting lineup.
“He’s got some left knee discomfort and we worked him out and we’re going to see if he’s a potential player off the bench tonight,” Hurdle said. “I think the comment I gathered from the training room was that he felt it coming out of the box on the double.”
— Gerrit Cole threw a four inning simulated game this afternoon of 50-60 pitches. He said afterwards that he felt good and he threw an extra 10 pitches (70 total) while using all pitches.
Hurdle’s Quotes
On the team buying into the on base percentage game: “It can take players a little bit of time to understand the dynamics of a lineup. They don’t have to explore it. That’s not their job, but when they can get involved in a lineup where you have a few guys that have that experience, you can plant those seeds within your lineup. They watch certain guys hit. When we planted Morneau in here last year, we got to watch a Major League experienced veteran guy take at bats. Those things help. They’ve had some guys here that have been able to help along their way and now the entire group has bought into it. Very early in the season, Russell Martin was able to put down a two-strike approach that was probably secondary in the time in the league in our viewpoint probably to Votto’s. Votto is a guy that when he dropped anchor with two strikes, that’s when the at bat began. Our guys have all collectively bought in to being the toughest out they can be in every at bat that they go up there.”
Other Notes
— Major League baseball held their competitive balance pick lottery today which gives 10 teams a pick after the first and second rounds of the draft. The Pirates did not receive a pick for next years draft.
— Ike Davis is hitting .400 (6-for-15) and has homered twice in his five games against the Dodgers this season.
— Francisco Liriano has made 11 starts at PNC Park since winning his last home game on 8/30/13 vs. St. Louis. He went 8-1 with a 1.21 ERA (59 2/3 IP / 8 ER) in his first nine starts with the Pirates at PNC Park last season, but has gone 0-3 with a 4.68 ERA (59 2/3 IP / 31 ER) in his last 11 home starts.
Tonight’s Pirates Lineup
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
