Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (81-70) look to complete the three-game sweep of the Red Sox (66-86). Gerrit Cole (9-5, 3.92 ERA) will take the mound and oppose Brandon Workman (1-9, 5.27 ERA).
Playoff Update
— The Cardinals defeated the Brewers 2-0 last night to remain 2 1/2 up on the Pirates for the N.L. Central lead. The Brewers now trail the Bucs by 2 1/2 for the second N.L. Wild Card. The two teams will finish up a three-game series tonight in St. Louis.
— The Giants and Braves are both off tonight meaning the Pirates can gain a 1/2 game on both with a win. They currently trail San Francisco by 2 1/2 for the first Wild Card and hold a 5 1/2 game lead on Atlanta for the second Wild Card.
Hurdle’s Quotes
On how changes to the lineup have effected the team: “You make moves for a reason. You give opportunity for a set period of time for something you believe in and when it doesn’t play out, the definition of insanity comes into play. Why continue the same thing over and over again and expect a different result, so you might move personnel, you might try and lighten somebody’s load. You might try to get somebody with a little better skill set in a different spot. For me, the three changes that have played out all well at different times have been Harrison at the top, Walker at the cleanup spot and Marte down in the order. All have been very impactful and have played out really well for us.”
Other Notes
— In eight Major League starts during the month of September, Gerrit Cole has gone 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA ERA (50 1/3 IP / 17 ER) and 57 strikeouts. He captured National League Rookie-of-the-Month honors last September after going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts. Cole has pitched at least 6 innings in all eight September starts while allowing three earned runs or fewer seven times. His only loss during the month of September came this year on 9/1 at St. Louis.
— Since the beginning of the 2012 season, the Pirates are 20-8 against American league opponents at PNC Park (7-2 this year). The Bucs have gone 10-9 overall this season against the A.L. after going 15-5 in 2013. This series marks Boston’s third trip to Pittsburgh (also 2003 and 2011); the Pirates have gone 5-3 against the Sox at PNC Park and 6-5 overall.
— The Pirates have gone 22-9 in their last 31 home games and 28-11 in their last 39. Pittsburgh’s 48-29 home record is tied with St. Louis for best in the National League and third-best in the Majors behind the Angels (51-26) and Orioles (49-29). Last year, the Bucs went 50-31 at home, setting a record for the most wins at PNC Park.
Tonight’s Pirates Lineup
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
