Today's Game: Play ball! Pittsburgh and Chicago start off the season at 2:20 at Wrigley Field. It will be carried by AT&T SportsNet, 93.7 The Fan, 100.1 FM/KDKA-1020 AM, and the Pirates Radio Network.
Lineup: Adam Frazier - 2B, Ke'Bryan Hayes - 3B; Bryan Reynolds - LF, Colin Moran - 1B; Kevin Newman - SS; Gregory Polanco RF; Jake Stallings - C; Tony Alford - CF; Chad Kuhl - RHP. No surprises in personnel or order.
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| Tony Alford claimed center - photo Gene Puskar/AP |
Pitchers: RHP Chad Kuhl is making his first Opening Day trip to the hill after most pundits were debating whether he start or head to the pen a month ago. Chad has been a punching bag for Chicago with a 2-6/5.82 slash in 11 starts, ouch. He only tossed eight innings in the spring, so it may turn into a bullpenning opener for Pittsburgh. RHP Kyle Hendricks is getting his second consecutive Opening Day call for Chi-Town. He's spent his seven-year career as a Cubbie with a 69-48/3.12 slash in 174 starts. Hendricks has pitched well against the Buccos with a 3.02 ERA in 19 lifetime starts, but with a so-so 6-8 result.
Notes:
- Opening Day 2021 - snowing and in the thirties in Chicago, and snowing and in the thirties in Pittsburgh...Santa should be throwing out the first pitch instead of the Easter Bunny.
- Couple of moves today: RHP reliever Kyle Crick is away from the team for the birth of his child and was replaced by RHP Clay Holmes. Holmes isn't on the 40-man; we assume he'll take Steven Brault's spot now that Brault has been officially placed on the 60-day IL. RHP Cody Ponce was moved to the 10-day IL.
- C Tony Wolters signed a MLB contract with the Cubs yesterday.
- The teams are off tomorrow and continue combat on Saturday. That begins a six-day stretch of games for the Pirates.
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