The Pittsburgh Pirates saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with a 4-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday evening. These two teams will meet again tonight.
Francisco Liriano will pitch for the Pirates against Chase Anderson.
Liriano is 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks. In his last start, Liriano allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of work against the St. Louis Cardinals. Liriano has an opponent batting average against on .212. In his last six starts, he has posted a 2.72 ERA while giving up two runs or less five times.
Anderson is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates. He lost his last start to the Philadelphia Phillies allowing five runs on nine hits in five innings. This is his third start since coming back from a right triceps inflammation injury. This is also his 21st start of the season which ties his career high, set last season.
Bullpen achieving success: It is no secret that the Pirates bullpen has being doing well of late. In their past seven games, the bullpen has collectively posted a 1.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
Arquimedes Caminero leads all National League rookie pitchers in appearances with 54 and has struck out 14 batters in his last nine innings of work.
Additionally, Caminero has made nine consecutive scoreless appearances and his 61 strikeouts lead all NL rookie relievers.
Since a rough start to his July, Caminero has been with pitching coach Ray Searage in an effort to find improvements. The big change has been his more consistent use of a sinker where he is worried more about placement.
“Everything’s been going great,” Caminero said. “We’ve been working since before the break. Ray told me not to worry about the results and just to go through the process. I’ve been through the process and getting better obviously but it has just been the sequences getting better.”
Addressing the bullpen’s success, Caminero simply stated that it was their job and that they try their best to back everyone up.
“It’s great to be part of the team when we’re winning games like this,” said Caminero. “We have to give some credit to the position players, they’re doing their job. Everyone is doing their jobs here.”
Bottom of the ninth: The Pirates bullpen has posted a 1.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts over the past seven games and have also tossed 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings… A.J. Burnett continues to progress however his work is being conducted based on slope and not throwing off the pitching rubber at this time. He is working towards throwing in the bullpen where he will throw on the bottom and possibly medium portions of the slope.
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