PNC Park –The Pirates (26 – 18) finish their 10-game homestand with a 3-game tilt with the Chicago Cubs (18 – 25). Matt Garza will be making his first start of the 2013 season for the Cubs while Wandy Rodriguez (4 – 2, 3.25 ERA) will oppose him for the Pirates. Wandy is coming off two straight starts where he gave up one run and six hits in six and seven innings respectively.
Hurdle’s Notes
On the team supporting the Pens in their playoff push – “We’re wearing Penguin jerseys the entire trip; here to Milwaukee, Milwaukee to Detroit, Detroit back home. We’re all in.”
“There’s a large contingency that have their finger to the pulse of Penguins hockey and they pull the other ones in regardless, weather if they want to or not. It’s cool, anytime you’re in a city where you can pick up the phone or send a text to another coach and wish them well and the players have their contacts and they have their relationships. It’s a special time of the year. It’s hard to beat playoff hockey. It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, and our team’s in.”
On Andrew McCutchen being cleared to play tonight – “We anticipated him being in a good place today, but he visited the training room and let them know he was feeling much better. We moved him around a little bit then he went into the strength and conditioning room and worked out a little bit. Their claiming that he’s good to go, so he’ll be back out and in play, playing centerfield and hitting third.”
On setting a lineup using more than just statistics against a certain pitcher – “The numbers, in and of themselves, cause I’ve got a buddy that will grab a 5-for-7 and say he’s wearing that guy (opposing pitcher) out, then I’ll say he’s got two bunt hits, two hits off the butt of the bat, and one line drive single. Then there’s another guy who’s 2-for-8 and he’s absolutely hit five missiles at people, hadn’t got a hit. Where do you want to go? That’s the gut feeling, do you go with the guy that finds a way to get base hits or do you go with the guy that’s had bad luck? So it’s a little deeper than just the numbers.”
Other Notes
— Jordy Mercer, resident of Edmond, OK, said that yesterday’s catastrophic tornado that hit Moore, OK was 20 miles south of his home. He said that he wished he were back home to help and he appreciates all of the support that fellow athletes have shown towards the state. “Oklahoma seems to come together when things like this happens” He also mentioned that all of his family and friends were safe. Thoughts and prayers go out to all effected from this tornado outbreak.
— Jared Hughes has been optioned to AAA Indianapolis to make room for Jose Contreras, who has come off the bereavement list due to a death in his family. In speaking with Hughes, he said he hopes to be back with the team soon.
— Andrew McCutchen loves facing Cubs hitting. In 59 career games against Chicago, Cutch is hitting .330 (66-for-200) with 9 homers, 32 RBI, and 40 runs. He has also reached base safely in 55 of 59 games.
— In three starts against the Pirates, Matt Garza is 1 – 1 with a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings pitched. He has allowed 3 homers against the Buccos.
— The Cubs are 12 – 6 in their last 18 games at PNC and have won 7 of their last 9. Prior to that stretch, the Cubs were 1 – 6 from May 4, 2010 – July 8, 2011.
–Since coming to the Cubs in 2007, Alfonso Soriano has hit a major-league leading 25 homers against the Pirates.
First pitch is set for 7:05.
(Photo Credit: AP)
