The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in this series, however the Pittsburgh Pirates still have an opportunity to earn a split if it were to match the aforementioned accomplishment.
In last night’s contest, the lead went back and forth, however the Pirates bullpen allowed an 8-5 lead to slip away in a 9-8 loss. Mark Melancon blew his first save in a 3-run top of the ninth inning.
Tonight’s starters:
In tonight’s game Vance Worley [1-1 5.84 ERA] will take to the mound against Jason Hammel [1-0 5.11 ERA]. Worley is coming off an outing that earned him his first win of the season. Worley allowed two runs in six innings Friday in a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Worley is 2-0 against the Cubs with a 2.39 ERA in 26.1 innings of work over the course of four career starts. In his last outing against the Cubs he won a 5-3 decision on June 21 pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three earned runs. He pitched 4.2 innings allowing three runs, two earned in a suspended game Sept. 5 against the Cubs as well.
Hammel had a no-decision in his last start allowing seven hits and four runs in 6.1 innings against the San Diego Padres. Hammel is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 46.1 career innings against the Pirates. He was 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA against them last year. Andrew McCutchen has had 20 at-bats against Hammel and owns a .300 average with two home runs and three RBI.
Pregame thoughts:
In his pregame press conference, manager Clint Hurdle discussed Jung-ho Kang’s adjustment in the major leagues both on and off the field.
Kang is the first position player to play in the MLB through the Korean Baseball Organization. He is taking English classes before and after games in addition to the work in batting cages, batting practice and the games themselves.
“We want to keep him in this environment,” Hurdle said. “The other challenge of major league volume of play is always going to happen here. I really believe he could go down to Triple-A and own it. Then he’s going to have a whole new team, buses versus airplanes and a whole new culture system to plug back into and I don’t think that’s a benefit for him. That’s why we’ve tried to stay with him and find opportunities for him.”
Mark Melancon will not be available for tonight’s game due to number of pitches last night. Hurdle did say however that if the Pirates are in the lead late in tomorrow’s game that Melancon would be the closer.
“Your closer is not going to be put in the bullpen right now to work on things,” Hurdle said. “For me it would be an absolute overreaction with one blown save to make a switch now.”
In a press conference a couple of days ago, Hurdle discussed Jared Hughes and how his strikeouts are up from past seasons.
Currently, Hughes is at 10 strikeouts in nine games and Hurdle was asked about the slider he referred to.
“It gets them off the sinker,” said Hurdle. “When you cross cut hitters where there is an x in the bottom of the zone with your sinker and slider going that way, it’s a tough combination to cover.”
Hurdle is optimistic that Jordy Mercer could be available off the bench to pinch hit tonight with the possibility of starting tomorrow. Charlie Morton will throw tomorrow in extended Spring Training with the goal of 4-to-5 innings and 70 pitches.
Tonight’s lineups:
Pirates [6-8]
1. Josh Harrison 3B
2. Gregory Polanco RF
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Neil Walker 2B
5. Starling Marte LF
6. Pedro Alvarez 1B
7. Francisco Cervelli C
8. Jung-ho Kang SS
9. Vance Worley P
Cubs [8-5]
1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Jorge Soler RF
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Kris Bryant 3B
5. Starlin Castro SS
6. Miguel Montero C
7. Chris Coghlan LF
8. Jason Hammel P
9. Addison Russell 2B
Bottom of the ninth:
Thursday is getaway day for the Pirates and following the game the team will travel to Phoenix to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pirates wardrobe on the trip will include Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys, something that has happened every year since Hurdle joined the team.
This however creates a problem for Rob Scahill who proudly hangs a Chicago Blackhawks jersey in his locker. Scahill plans to violate the Pirates clothing requirement.
Scahill has already received some good-natured ribbing, particularly from A.J. Burnett from the jersey, but is confident his thick skinned nature will pull him through.
“I’ve got to root for my hometown team and a leopard can’t change his spots,” Scahill said. “I’ve got to wear a ‘hawks jersey and not a Penguins one.”
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
