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PITTSBURGH ( MORTON )
CINCINNATI ( SAMPSON ) |
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| 903 | PITTSBURGH | -130 | Ov 9,-115 | -125 | Ov 9,-115 | | 904 | CINCINNATI | +120 | Un 9,-105 | +115 | Un 9,-105 |
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| All Games | 60-43 | +8.5 | 45-48 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 0.387 | 0.697 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.363 | 0.670 | | Road Games | 25-26 | -2.9 | 21-23 | 4.2 | 0.258 | 0.309 | 0.384 | 0.693 | 4.2 | 0.267 | 0.327 | 0.384 | 0.711 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 50-34 | +10.2 | 37-38 | 4.1 | 0.254 | 0.306 | 0.386 | 0.693 | 3.6 | 0.251 | 0.306 | 0.363 | 0.670 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -0.3 | 4-2 | 5.3 | 0.256 | 0.310 | 0.388 | 0.699 | 6.3 | 0.329 | 0.383 | 0.520 | 0.903 | | Grass Games | 60-43 | +8.5 | 45-48 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 0.387 | 0.697 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.363 | 0.670 | | Day Games | 20-12 | +7.2 | 12-16 | 4.2 | 0.266 | 0.316 | 0.400 | 0.716 | 3.2 | 0.239 | 0.295 | 0.337 | 0.632 | | Division | 18-26 | -13.3 | 21-18 | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.304 | 0.370 | 0.674 | 4.3 | 0.265 | 0.328 | 0.392 | 0.720 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 103 | 3568 | 920 | 190 | 13 | 82 | 0.387 | 401 | 268 | 835 | 68 | 737 | 83 | 76 | 119 | 94 | | Road Games | 4.2 | 0.258 | 0.309 | 51 | 1826 | 471 | 101 | 5 | 40 | 0.384 | 198 | 134 | 456 | 37 | 382 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 55 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.254 | 0.306 | 84 | 2912 | 740 | 158 | 10 | 69 | 0.386 | 324 | 219 | 679 | 51 | 590 | 69 | 60 | 105 | 74 |
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| All Games | 2.88 | 1.227 | 313 | 113 | 100 | 287 | 30 | 97 | 270 | 16-13 | 35 | 9 | 79.5% | | Road Games | 3.08 | 1.428 | 152 | 63 | 52 | 157 | 14 | 60 | 139 | 3-9 | 15 | 5 | 75% |
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| All Games | 47-55 | -8.1 | 50-46 | 4.0 | 0.254 | 0.315 | 0.406 | 0.721 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 0.398 | 0.714 | | Home Games | 27-23 | +2.2 | 28-18 | 4.7 | 0.268 | 0.334 | 0.442 | 0.776 | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.322 | 0.403 | 0.725 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 35-41 | -6.3 | 36-36 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.314 | 0.400 | 0.714 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.317 | 0.400 | 0.717 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +2.4 | 2-4 | 5.1 | 0.280 | 0.349 | 0.436 | 0.785 | 4.9 | 0.242 | 0.306 | 0.437 | 0.743 | | Grass Games | 47-55 | -8.1 | 50-46 | 4.0 | 0.254 | 0.315 | 0.406 | 0.721 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 0.398 | 0.714 | | Day Games | 11-21 | -12.5 | 16-14 | 3.9 | 0.251 | 0.314 | 0.401 | 0.714 | 5.1 | 0.265 | 0.333 | 0.424 | 0.757 | | Division | 21-23 | +1.7 | 22-19 | 4.1 | 0.248 | 0.311 | 0.399 | 0.710 | 4.3 | 0.244 | 0.311 | 0.395 | 0.706 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.254 | 0.315 | 102 | 3511 | 891 | 156 | 18 | 114 | 0.406 | 395 | 315 | 738 | 100 | 731 | 84 | 51 | 78 | 65 | | Home Games | 4.7 | 0.268 | 0.334 | 50 | 1714 | 459 | 80 | 7 | 68 | 0.442 | 225 | 170 | 353 | 49 | 369 | 37 | 15 | 35 | 38 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.314 | 76 | 2610 | 660 | 118 | 10 | 82 | 0.400 | 294 | 233 | 546 | 73 | 557 | 58 | 39 | 65 | 54 |
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| All Games | 4.24 | 1.368 | 314.3 | 161 | 148 | 293 | 28 | 137 | 282 | 15-20 | 23 | 12 | 65.7% | | Home Games | 3.92 | 1.308 | 174.3 | 77 | 76 | 158 | 15 | 70 | 177 | 12-8 | 12 | 7 | 63.2% |
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| 7/19/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | 1-6 | L | 125 | 8 un | U | 6 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 10-7 | W | 125 | 7 ev | O | 17 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 1 | | 7/21/2015 | COLE(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 1-3 | L | -115 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 1-5 | L | 115 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 7/23/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 7-3 | W | -185 | 7 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | LOCKE(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 7-5 | W | +120 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | BURNETT(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 3-9 | L | -145 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | COLE(R) | WASHINGTON | ROSS(R) | 3-1 | W | -160 | 7 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 7/28/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 8-7 | W | -105 | 9.5 un | O | 11 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 1 | | 7/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ MINNESOTA | SANTANA(R) | 10-4 | W | -130 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | | 7/30/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ CINCINNATI | HOLMBERG(L) | 5-15 | L | -150 | 9 un | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 0 | | 7/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | 5-4 | W | -125 | 9 un | P | 7 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | | 8/1/2015 | COLE(R) | @ CINCINNATI | IGLESIAS(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 7.5 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 8/2/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ CINCINNATI | SAMPSON(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 8/4/2015 | HAPP(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | LOCKE(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAREN(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | COLE(R) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | MORTON(R) | LA DODGERS | LATOS(R) | | | 8/9/2015 | | LA DODGERS | | |
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| 7/19/2015 | CUETO(R) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 3-5 | L | -110 | 7 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | RICHARD(L) | 5-4 | W | -110 | 9.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-5 | L | +115 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | LEAKE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 9-1 | W | +105 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | CINGRANI(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | BEELER(R) | 5-6 | L | -120 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 | | 7/24/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | 5-6 | L | 105 | 11 un | P | 10 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 5-2 | W | -130 | 10 un | U | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 7/26/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 7-17 | L | -115 | 11.5 un | O | 14 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 | | 7/27/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | 1-4 | L | 150 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 7/28/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | 4-0 | W | 135 | 7 ev | U | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 7/29/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 1-0 | W | 155 | 7.5 un | U | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 7/30/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 15-5 | W | +140 | 9 un | O | 19 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 7/31/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 4-5 | L | +115 | 9 un | P | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 8/1/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 4-3 | W | +130 | 7.5 ov | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 8/2/2015 | SAMPSON(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 8/6/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ ARIZONA | RAY(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | | @ ARIZONA | GODLEY(R) | | | 8/9/2015 | | @ ARIZONA | | |
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| |  | PITTSBURGH: PITTSBURGH (AP) - The scenario was familiar. The destination not so much.
A veteran player with not much time left leaving millions of dollars on the table for one last run to glory. Only A.J. Burnett didn't walk away from his $12.75 million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies for Los Angeles, Washington or St. Louis.
Nope, the 38-year-old well-traveled (and well tattooed) pitcher practically sprinted to Pittsburgh. His arrival in 2012 marked a sea change in the once-floundering organization's direction. His return three years later signals - he hopes - the end of the team's slow but steady slog from downtrodden afterthought to world champion. And he's not kidding.
''I want to win a ring and I want to win a ring in Pittsburgh,'' Burnett said.
The Pirates are as close to being in the conversation as they've been in nearly a quarter century. And they've opened up their wallets, at least a little, to get there. Pittsburgh made Francisco Liriano the highest-paid free agent in team history when they signed lefthander to a three-year, $39-million deal in the offseason to continue the career resurgence that began when they took a two-year flier on him in 2013. And while Burnett took a cut, he isn't exactly going broke. He'll make $8 million to work as the third man in the rotation behind Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
Pittsburgh even spent $5 million for the rights to sign Korean infielder Jung-Ho Kang, who hit 40 home runs on the other side of the world last year and gives the Pirates an intriguing if unproven option should shortstop Jordy Mercer falter or second baseman Neil Walker's back flare up.
General manager Neal Huntington remains adamant his team's budget will never compare to those of clubs in larger markets but allows there is ''more margin for error'' than in years' past.
''We've built a deeper club because of the money allocated to us,'' he said. ''But we need to continue to grow and mature. We want to put ourselves in a position to win the World Series.''
There are worse places to start than in Pittsburgh, which backed up its breakthrough year in 2013 with a second straight postseason berth in 2014. The playoff run ended abruptly against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the NL wild card game. Yet the point had been made. The Pirates aren't going anywhere.
''It would've been easy to say 2013 was a fluke and we just got lucky,'' centerfielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''But we showed up in `14 and were able to do the same thing. We know we're for real. And other teams know they just can't come in (thinking), `All right, we're going to beat the Pirates.' We're not that team anymore.''
They're also not where they want to be, at least not yet. A National League Central title would avoid the fickleness of a one-game scenario. Pittsburgh believes it's built to withstand the rigors of October.
Here are the keys to getting there:
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THE OTHER FRANCISCO
The Pirates' budget might be growing, but they still couldn't afford to keep catcher Russell Martin, who parlayed his tremendous 2014 into a $82 million deal with Toronto. Pittsburgh prepared for Martin's departure by trading for longtime Yankees' backup catcher Francisco Cervelli. When healthy Cervelli is an adequate defensive replacement with a decent if not powerful bat. If he can handle the pitching staff and control the basepaths, any offense he provides would be a plus.
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SPEED TO BURN
Perennial MVP candidate McCutchen anchors one of baseball's most athletic outfields. Starling Marte surged toward the end of a bumpy 2014 and Gregory Polanco is a raw but talented work in progress. Pittsburgh felt confident enough in Polanco's progress to trade Travis Snider to Baltimore.
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PEDRO'S PROGRESS
Pedro Alvarez moves across the infield to first base in hopes of salvaging his career after developing a serious case of the yips at third. If his can reclaim the groove that helped him mash 36 homers in 2013, the Pirates can live with whatever growing pains may come with the switch.
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KANG SHOW
Kang (pronounced ''Gahng'') doesn't lack for confidence. He told reporters in Korea he believes he can supplant Mercer at shortstop. It may take longer than he thought after a sluggish spring training.
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THE VANIMAL
Vance Worley, like Liriano, Burnett and the since departed Edinson Volquez, thrived under pitching coach Ray Searage's mentoring last spring. He was arguably Pittsburgh's best starter down the stretch and a strong spring gives him a leg up in the battle Jeff Locke for the fifth starter spot. | | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
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CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
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VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
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NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
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OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
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RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Reds Preview* ======================
By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor
Pittsburgh (60-42) at Cincinnati (46-55), 1:10 p.m. EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been doing well with Cincinnati Reds pitchers who have never started against them, and they'll see another one Sunday.
Many teams going forward will be in the same situation considering the Reds rotation is now comprised solely of rookies.
Keyvius Sampson makes his first major league start looking to help Cincinnati claim its fourth series victory in as many tries against the visiting Pirates.
This four-game set began Thursday with the Reds calling up David Holmberg to make his season debut to replace Johnny Cueto, who was traded to Kansas City. Holmberg got the win by allowing two runs in six innings of a 15-5 victory.
It was a similar story Saturday when Raisel Iglesias faced Pittsburgh for the first time and emerged victorious, giving up two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win.
Eugenio Suarez had three RBIs - two off major league wins leader Gerrit Cole - as Cincinnati (47-55) won for the fourth time in five games.
"It was a really good night for me and the team," said Suarez, hitting .364 in six games against Pittsburgh this year.
The Reds are 9-3 in the season series and would be in position to sweep if it weren't for a 5-4 loss Friday which saw Starling Marte throw out a runner at the plate in the ninth and make a game-ending diving catch. That is Pittsburgh's only win in its last eight games in Cincinnati.
Marte had another diving grab Saturday but had a 10-game hitting streak snapped. Jung Ho Kang homered for the third time in five games and is batting .449 in his last 13.
Sampson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) made his major league debut against the Pirates (60-43) on Thursday, striking out two in one perfect inning, but didn't face any of Pittsburgh's regulars. He's filling an opening in the rotation created later that night when Mike Leake was dealt to San Francisco.
"We didn't know when he pitched that day that he'd be the Sunday starter, so it wasn't a prelim to the Sunday start," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "... It's a spot start. There's no guarantees beyond (Sunday), but it does give us a better chance to look at him and give him a chance to use his full mix."
For now, the 24-year-old right-hander gives the Reds a rotation of five rookies - Michael Lorenzen and Anthony DeScalfani are the others - now that Leake and Cueto are gone. Sampson was 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA in eight games for Triple-A Louisville but did throw eight scoreless innings July 24 in his last start.
He'd be helped by Cincinnati starting fast again, having totaled seven runs in the first two innings during this series.
That doesn't bode well for Charlie Morton (6-4, 4.61). Sixteen of the 38 runs he's allowed have been in the first. Opposing batters are hitting .370 through Morton's first 30 pitches and .190 on pitches 31-to-90.
Morton is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in three games since the All-Star break and winless in five straight due partly to poor control, issuing 15 walks and hitting four batters in 30 1-3 innings.
He's 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last six starts against the Reds. Todd Frazier is 7 for 15 with five extra-base hits against him, including two homers.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 6:20:27 AM EST. |
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