Pirate-LA Pre-Game & Notes

Tonight's game will match LHP Erik Bedard against the Dodger's RHP Chad Billingsley. Game time is set for 10:10 PM, and will be shown on Root Sports after the hockey game. The lineup will be available later; we'd assume that it's the Garrett Jones/Pedro Alvarez righty platoon again.

(EDIT - the lineup; Alex Presley LF, Nate McLouth RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Neil Walker 2B, Garrett Jones 1B, Rod Barajas C, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Clint Barmes SS and Erik Bedard P. Jose Tabata gets a night off; wonder when Barmes is gonna get one.)

• Matt Eddy of Baseball America reported that the Bucs have signed 26 year old RHP Rick VandenHurk. He was outrighted by the Indians after pitching for Florida and Baltimore and opted to become a minor-league free agent. The 6-5 Dutchman has an 8-10 MLB record, with a 5.97 ERA and 176 Ks in 181 IP, mostly as a starter.
• Clint Barmes (0-13) and Garrett Jones (0-7) are still looking for their first hit.
• The Dodgers take stadium security seriously now after a couple of bouts of rowdyism last season. This year, they patrolled the grounds undercover. They were dressed as Pirate fans.
• The Pirates have started the season with four straight one-run decisions for the first time in club history.
• RHP AJ Burnett will make his second rehab start tonight for the Bradenton Marauders. He's expected to work to an 80-85 pitch limit.
• RHP Mike Crotta, who started 2011 with the Pirates and was expected to begin this year at Indy, underwent surgery on his elbow to remove bone spurs and had a screw being inserted for a stress fracture. He'll be out until July or August.
• When the Pirates play at San Francisco on Friday, it will be the Giants' home opener. They probably won't have the Beach Boys sing "Surfer Girl," though, like the Dodgers did yesterday.
• Paul Maholm had a rough start to his Cub career. He lasted four frames and gave up six runs on six hits to the Brewers, including homers to Alex Gonzalez and Jonathan Lucroy, in a 7-4 loss. He just may not have been able to warm up - it was 40 when the game started and the temps dropped after that. PM gave up a five-spot in the first frame.
• Second basemen are getting expensive; no wonder Neil Walker is taking his time. The Reds just signed 30 year old Brandon Phillips to a 6 year/$72.5M contract while the Rangers inked 29 year old Ian Kinsler to a 5 year/$75M deal.