Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Adam Frazier RF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C, Gerrit Cole P. Fran's out today and we're wondering if this is going to turn into one of the 3-4 day episodes like so many injuries have this year. The Bucs seem have been bitten with a lot of tweener ouchies during the campaign.
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| Cole Train looking for win #1 v the Reds (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (10-8, 4.16) matches up with Luis Castillo (2-6, 3.45). Cole has gone 7-2/3.55 in his last 13 outings and has won his last seven verdicts on the road. But his last start was a no-decision in a 12-inning loss to the Dodgers Monday night when he couldn't hang on to a 3-0 lead. And if it weren't for bad luck, Gerrit would have no luck at all v Cincy. His career line is 0-6, 5.14 in nine starts (Pittsburgh has lost all nine). He's got a no decision this year, surrendering three runs (two earned) in six innings for a no-decision in a 4-3, 10-inning walkoff loss in May at Great American. Cole Train went 0-2/6.10 in two starts last season. He's also had an issue with long balls; he's given up 26 in 27 starts. Castillo has a live arm (98 MPH) with a sinker, slider and change. The 24-year-old Dominican rookie has been steady at the helm; he hasn't given up more than four runs in any start and has a strong, if small sample size, reverse split, holding lefties to a .186 BA. He can be waited out; he only lasted four innings in his last outing after hitting 90 pitches (albeit with eight whiffs).
Notes:
- J-Bell has gone 20-for-50 (.400) with three doubles, two triples, three home runs and 17 RBI in his last 16 games.
- Fraze has hits in nine of his last 10 games and reached base safely in all 10.
- The last Pirates pitcher to win seven straight decisions on the road prior to Gerrit was Jeff Robinson in 1988. The last Bucco pitcher to win eight consecutive road decisions was Don Robinson in 1982.
- Wade LeBlanc is slated to toss a two-inning sim game today.
2 comments:
Can someone please tell me why hurdled refuses to play osuna and diaz instead of rotting on the bench
S-Rod knocked Joey O out of the outfield and Osuna can't beat J-Bell at first, so he's pretty limited to the bench IMO. Diaz is a different matter; with Cervy's physical woes and Stew being 35 and in his walk year, I'd sure be auditioning Eli for 2018.
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