The Pittsburgh Pirates return to the road for a three game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This is the first time the Pirates face a National League East team this season.
Tonight’s starters
The Pirates will send Gerrit Cole [4-1 2.27 ERA] to the mound against Jerome Williams [2-2 5.18 ERA]. Cole is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies. Cole is coming off his first loss in nine outings after allowing three runs on eight hits as part of his five innings of work. Cole was named National League Pitcher of the Month posting a 4-0 record in April. Ben Revere who is batting leadoff for the Phillies has an .800 average against Cole with four hits in five plate appearances.
Williams has a 1-4 record against the Pirates with a 4.37 ERA in six starts. Williams is tied for the third most amount of hits allowed in the NL with 46. Williams has a career record of 28-31 with a 4.07 ERA in home games. Pedro Alvarez has two hits in three at-bats against Williams, one of which is a home run. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-6 lifetime against Williams and two of those hits are homers.
Pregame thoughts:
The vast majority of today’s media availability with Pirates manager Clint Hurdle involved questions about Jung-ho Kang.
Kang once again finds himself in the lineup as Josh Harrison gets another day off.
“Jung-ho swung the bat well and I think we’re going to continue to look for opportunities to get the best lineup we can get out there today, that’s how I’ve always felt,” Hurdle said.
Kang’s batting average is up to .333 and he hit his second home run of the season in yesterday’s game.
Much of Spring Training involved people suggesting Kang eliminate his leg kick. He was able to adjust in all counts. A lot of Kang’s hitting has come with two strikes and depending on pitch location and feel, Kang will either stick with his leg kick or eliminate it.
“It’s a completely different situation from what he has experienced in the past,” said Hurdle. “He found out early that he was going to put himself in a position to get beat and not have a fighting chance and not have the opportunity for a good swing. It’s a smart move on his part and one we’ve talked about in Spring Training. It was right around the time that some people didn’t think the leg kick would work. He’s come up with a nice offensive plan he’s trying to follow and be stubborn with.”
Antonio Bastardo was not in the clubhouse with the team in Citizens Bank Park, a ballpark he called home for over five seasons. He was placed on the paternity list after his wife Maribel gave berth to a baby boy. In his place is Bobby LaFromboise.
“He’s gone on some nice stretches then he’s gone on some stretches where his command has varied a little bit and he walks more guys than we’re used to seeing,” said Hurdle. “We saw him good last year while he was up here he made pitches.”
LaFromboise found out about the move yesterday and says it is his desire to help the team as long as he can. He said that his inconsistencies with command involved quickness in his delivery, something he says he has slowed down.
“My expectations are always high,” LaFromboise said. “I don’t expect to give up hit and I want to do the best that I know I can do, I can’t do any more than that.”
Jared Hughes and Mark Melancon have been used a lot. Of the team’s 31 games, each has on the mound 18 times. This is something that makes Hurdle uncomfortable.
“That’s high,” Hurdle said. “That would be called red-lining it if we had sports cars. We’re going to try some different things. Part of it is our offense showing up to a better degree and creating separation in some of these games.”
Bottom of the ninth:
Hurdle told assembled media that John Holdzkom has currently been shut down with shoulder fatigue.
While discussing Kang’s leg kick, Hurdle reflected on Josh Hamilton’s leg kick issues in 2010. The former Texas Rangers hitting coach told Hamilton how he felt in Spring Training and May 1 the outfielder was ready to listen. He initially wanted to give up the two hours Hurdle spent with him working without the leg kick after leaving six men on base and going hitless the first night but stuck with it and got three hits the next night and 46 more the rest of the month. The leg kick was gone for the rest of the season.
“He built a different swing in a day,” Hurdle recalled.
Photo credit: MLB
