Sunny skies and at least 18 innings await the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs in today’s day/night doubleheader.
Gerrit Cole and J.A. Happ will throw for the Pirates against Jason Hammel and Jon Lester.
Cole is 6-1 against the Cubs with a 2.93 ERA in seven career starts. He last pitched Sept. 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings.
“I’m getting to see him for the first time this year,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “This guy is a really good athlete with really good stuff. I’ve been really impressed and I can see what all of the talk is about now.”
Happ is 1-3 with a 6.04 in five starts against the Cubs.
Hammel allowed three runs on four hits in six-plus innings against the Cardinals and is 5-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 10 games [nine starts]. Lester earned a no-decision allowing one run on two hits in seven innings against the Cubs retiring 20 of his final 21 batters. Hammel suffered a knee injury before the All-Star Break and had a 5.04 ERA in August. Maddon stated that Lester is pitching better than his record indicates.
Here’s the line on Happ: August 4 was a rough day for J.A. Happ. He was looking to make a good first impression with the Pirates and instead lost against the Cubs allowing four runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings.
“Obviously things didn’t go the way I liked,” Happ said.
Happ then saw his next start skipped. Since then he has won his past five decisions and took a no-decision in his other start.
“I feel like I’m a little more on track and in a better place right now,” said Happ. “This is a big series with them coming in, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”
In the five wins, he has allowed three earned runs over 30.2-plus innings of work.
“It feels good to contribute,” Happ said. “Coming over here, this is what I wanted to do. It’s nothing earth-shattering, it’s just continuing to trust the process and continue to work and trust that it will get there. I feel comfortable with my delivery and having some success gives me some confidence too.”
Since making his Pirates debut Aug. 4, Happ’s 1.57 ERA is third lowest in the majors behind Jake Arrieta [0.46] and Clayton Kershaw [1.50].
Seventh-inning stretch: As reported earlier, Vance Worley has been recalled by the Pirates and the team designated Radhames Liz for assignment since the former did not have a spot on the 40-man roster.
Worley will be back in a long-relief role with the team.
“That’s when he pitched his best ball, when he first was taken out of the rotation,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Actually pitched very well for three, four, five outings out of the bullpen. Then the lack of work complicated. We’re all aware of the role he’s in, and that role might even change going forward.”
Worley said that he worked hard with Triple-A Indianapolis so he could rejoin the Pirates. As for the readjustment back to a bullpen role, he will have to reacquaint himself with that role but stated the adjustment should not be too difficult.
Joe Blanton discussed the adjustment between starting versus long relief.
“When you start everything is planned out,” Blanton said. “You get four days to do your workouts and four days to get your work in. Everything is to a T on time and what you’re doing in the bullpen definitely is not. You watch the game and keep yourself ready at all times.”
Hurdle cited Worley was selected over Liz due to command and execution.
“With baseball you can’t think, you just have to go out and do your job the best you can and see what happens,” said Worley. “The DFA caught me off guard and I found myself going back to Indy.”
With Gerrit Cole’s innings count in question, it is natural to wonder when or if Francisco Liriano will get a start skipped as well.
Currently, Liriano has thrown 167 innings, his highest total since 2010. Part of that is because he has had a healthy season.
Liriano contributes his good health to finding a routine and sticking with it. It was a goal for him to be with this team and stay healthy, something which he done to date.
“I try to do the same routine and not do too much,” said Liriano. “I want to find a way to stay healthy so I’ve been able to do that this year. It means a lot for me to pitch all season. It’s been a while since I’ve pitched the whole year so it’s meant a lot to me.”
Bottom of the ninth: Former teammates Blanton and Worley are reunited. Blanton was injured in 2011 and Worley took his place, having a breakthrough season. When Blanton first joined the team in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, Worley was designated for assignment.
“It’s nice, I enjoyed playing with him when I was there,” Blanton said. “He’s a good competitor and a good ballplayer who just wants to go out and play. He’s a good guy.”
The Pirates are playing their first doubleheader since May 1 last season against the Baltimore Orioles. This is also the first at PNC Park since July 30, 2013 against the St. Louis Cardinals. With a win today, Cole would be the first Pirates pitcher to win more than 16 games in a season since John Smiley went 20-8 in 1991.
Photo credit: CBSSports.com
