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PITTSBURGH ( MORTON ) |
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| 903 | COLORADO | +185 | Ov 8,+100 | +180 | Ov 8,+105 | | 904 | PITTSBURGH | -200 | Un 8,-120 | -190 | Un 8,-125 |
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| All Games | 51-76 | -17.4 | 67-56 | 4.5 | 0.267 | 0.315 | 0.436 | 0.751 | 5.3 | 0.282 | 0.350 | 0.460 | 0.810 | | Road Games | 24-40 | -7 | 32-30 | 3.5 | 0.234 | 0.280 | 0.386 | 0.666 | 4.6 | 0.264 | 0.337 | 0.430 | 0.767 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 46-53 | +0.4 | 52-43 | 4.7 | 0.271 | 0.321 | 0.449 | 0.769 | 5.2 | 0.278 | 0.346 | 0.456 | 0.802 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.6 | 4-3 | 4.3 | 0.235 | 0.287 | 0.406 | 0.693 | 5.3 | 0.305 | 0.394 | 0.460 | 0.854 | | Grass Games | 51-76 | -17.4 | 67-56 | 4.5 | 0.267 | 0.315 | 0.436 | 0.751 | 5.3 | 0.282 | 0.350 | 0.460 | 0.810 | | Day Games | 23-20 | +6.1 | 23-20 | 5.2 | 0.271 | 0.331 | 0.463 | 0.794 | 4.5 | 0.260 | 0.329 | 0.424 | 0.754 |
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| All Games | 4.5 | 0.267 | 0.315 | 127 | 4342 | 1160 | 219 | 37 | 147 | 0.436 | 548 | 305 | 991 | 76 | 800 | 107 | 79 | 125 | 77 | | Road Games | 3.5 | 0.234 | 0.280 | 64 | 2157 | 505 | 100 | 9 | 70 | 0.386 | 216 | 138 | 552 | 34 | 372 | 50 | 40 | 53 | 36 | | Righty Starters | 4.7 | 0.271 | 0.321 | 99 | 3403 | 921 | 183 | 33 | 119 | 0.449 | 448 | 251 | 753 | 56 | 636 | 82 | 61 | 102 | 58 |
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| All Games | 4.81 | 1.505 | 432.7 | 249 | 231 | 460 | 44 | 191 | 367 | 20-26 | 27 | 17 | 61.4% | | Road Games | 4.27 | 1.449 | 196 | 104 | 93 | 188 | 18 | 96 | 180 | 8-11 | 17 | 7 | 70.8% |
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| All Games | 79-49 | +21 | 56-60 | 4.3 | 0.262 | 0.316 | 0.398 | 0.714 | 3.6 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.360 | 0.664 | | Home Games | 46-20 | +18.7 | 31-31 | 4.3 | 0.266 | 0.321 | 0.406 | 0.726 | 3.3 | 0.239 | 0.294 | 0.346 | 0.640 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 17-11 | +3.2 | 13-14 | 4.4 | 0.281 | 0.337 | 0.408 | 0.745 | 3.9 | 0.247 | 0.302 | 0.362 | 0.664 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +4.6 | 2-4 | 4.3 | 0.276 | 0.365 | 0.399 | 0.765 | 2.6 | 0.230 | 0.266 | 0.341 | 0.607 | | Grass Games | 79-49 | +21 | 56-60 | 4.3 | 0.262 | 0.316 | 0.398 | 0.714 | 3.6 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.360 | 0.664 | | Day Games | 24-12 | +11.8 | 14-18 | 4.3 | 0.263 | 0.314 | 0.408 | 0.722 | 3.1 | 0.235 | 0.291 | 0.330 | 0.621 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.262 | 0.316 | 128 | 4443 | 1163 | 229 | 24 | 110 | 0.398 | 517 | 353 | 1031 | 79 | 924 | 113 | 94 | 148 | 117 | | Home Games | 4.3 | 0.266 | 0.321 | 66 | 2221 | 590 | 105 | 13 | 60 | 0.406 | 272 | 180 | 483 | 41 | 458 | 60 | 41 | 78 | 54 | | Lefty Starters | 4.4 | 0.281 | 0.337 | 28 | 974 | 274 | 45 | 6 | 22 | 0.408 | 122 | 82 | 222 | 18 | 219 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 33 |
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| All Games | 2.55 | 1.175 | 402.7 | 130 | 114 | 352 | 32 | 121 | 348 | 26-13 | 46 | 12 | 79.3% | | Home Games | 2.39 | 1.062 | 214.7 | 62 | 57 | 172 | 18 | 56 | 180 | 20-4 | 26 | 7 | 78.8% |
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| 8/16/2015 | RUSIN(L) | SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 5-0 | W | -110 | 11 ev | U | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 8/18/2015 | HALE(R) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 6-15 | L | +150 | 9.5 un | O | 13 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 3 | | 8/19/2015 | DE LA ROSA(L) | WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 1-4 | L | +135 | 9.5 un | U | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 1 | | 8/20/2015 | FLANDE(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 3-2 | W | +180 | 10.5 ov | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 8/21/2015 | GRAY(R) | NY METS | COLON(R) | 9-14 | L | -105 | 11 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 1 | | 8/22/2015 | RUSIN(L) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | 9-14 | L | +105 | 10.5 ov | O | 14 | 7 | 1 | 21 | 9 | 0 | | 8/23/2015 | HALE(R) | NY METS | VERRETT(R) | 1-5 | L | +115 | 11 ov | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 8/24/2015 | DE LA ROSA(L) | @ ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 3-5 | L | 100 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 8/25/2015 | BETTIS(R) | @ ATLANTA | FOLTYNEWICZ(R) | 5-1 | W | 105 | 8 un | U | 6 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 3 | | 8/26/2015 | FLANDE(L) | @ ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 6-3 | W | 135 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0 | | 8/28/2015 | GRAY(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 3-5 | L | 230 | 7 ev | O | 5 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 8/29/2015 | RUSIN(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | HAPP(L) | 3-4 | L | 200 | 8 ov | U | 9 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 2 | | 8/30/2015 | DE LA ROSA(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 8/31/2015 | BETTIS(R) | ARIZONA | RAY(L) | | | 9/1/2015 | FLANDE(L) | ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | | | 9/1/2015 | | ARIZONA | DELGADO(R) | | | 9/2/2015 | GRAY(R) | ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | | | 9/3/2015 | RUSIN(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | | | 9/4/2015 | DE LA ROSA(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | | | 9/5/2015 | BETTIS(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | PEAVY(R) | | | 9/6/2015 | | SAN FRANCISCO | | |
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| 8/16/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 8-1 | W | 155 | 7 ev | O | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 | | 8/17/2015 | COLE(R) | ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | 1-4 | L | -205 | 7 ov | U | 7 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 1 | | 8/18/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | 9-8 | W | -190 | 7 ov | O | 17 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 1 | | 8/19/2015 | HAPP(L) | ARIZONA | RAY(L) | 4-1 | W | -130 | 7.5 ov | U | 10 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 8/20/2015 | MORTON(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | PEAVY(R) | 4-0 | W | -130 | 8 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | | 8/21/2015 | LOCKE(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | 4-6 | L | +110 | 7 un | O | 10 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 0 | | 8/22/2015 | COLE(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | LEAKE(R) | 3-2 | W | -170 | 7 un | U | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 8/23/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 5-2 | W | -180 | 7 ov | P | 11 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 8/24/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 5-2 | W | -140 | 8 ev | U | 8 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 8/25/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ MIAMI | HAND(L) | 2-5 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0 | | 8/26/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ MIAMI | NARVESON(L) | 7-2 | W | -145 | 8 un | O | 9 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 8/27/2015 | COLE(R) | @ MIAMI | NICOLINO(L) | 2-1 | W | -215 | 7 ov | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 8/28/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | COLORADO | GRAY(R) | 5-3 | W | -255 | 7 ev | O | 10 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 8/29/2015 | HAPP(L) | COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 4-3 | W | -220 | 8 ov | U | 8 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 8/30/2015 | MORTON(R) | COLORADO | DE LA ROSA(L) | | | 9/1/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | | | 9/2/2015 | COLE(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | | | 9/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | | | 9/4/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | | | 9/5/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | | | 9/6/2015 | | @ ST LOUIS | | |
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| |  | COLORADO: DENVER (AP) - Troy Tulowitzki benefits by having Carlos Gonzalez in the lineup. Gonzalez certainly benefits from Tulowitzki's presence, too.
But the Colorado Rockies may not benefit as much as you might think having those two sluggers together in the batting order. A healthy Tulo and CarGo by no means guarantees success, even if the Rockies are banking on bounce-back years from them to end a string of four straight losing seasons.
At least, the numbers seem to indicate as much. Since 2010, the Rockies are just 185-198 (.483 winning percentage) when Gonzalez and Tulowitzki are both in the starting lineup, according to STATS.
Still better than the alternative, though. Colorado is 175-252 (.410) when one or both don't start.
The takeaway is simple: This powerful tandem needs some help.
Colorado didn't make any splashy moves over the winter after a 66-96 season that led to sweeping changes in the front office. The biggest moves by new GM Jeff Bridich weren't to bolster a beleaguered pitching staff, but to bring in veteran catcher Nick Hundley and utility infielder Daniel Descalso.
Bridich believes Tulowitzki and Gonzalez can do more to get this team back on track than any sort of blockbuster deal.
If they stay on the field, that is.
''I'm not going to sit here and say we're a 90-win team or whatever it is. I'm just getting myself ready to play,'' Tulowitzki said. ''That's my goal, keep myself healthy.''
That's been anything but easy for the smooth-fielding shortstop. Over his career, he's had stints on the disabled list for a quadriceps tendon tear, lacerated right hand, broken left wrist and a groin injury. Last season, Tulowitzki played only 91 games before undergoing hip surgery.
''I feel great,'' said Tulowitzki, who turned 30 in October. ''But you guys judge and tell me.''
Like Tulowitzki, Gonzalez also feels fit again. The outfielder was limited to 70 games because of surgery to remove a small tumor in his left index finger and then another on his left knee.
''I'm feeling really good in the outfield, so that's a really good sign,'' Gonzalez said.
No doubt, Tulowitzki and Gonzalez fuel each other on offense. With Tulowitzki in the lineup since 2010, Gonzalez hit .307 with 89 homers spanning 402 games. Without him, Gonzalez's average was .291 with 30 homers in 185 games, according to STATS research.
And while Tulowitzki's batting average actually goes up without Gonzalez (.307 to .328), his slugging percentage dips a bit (.559 to .533).
''I think everything will take care of itself - if I play,'' Tulowitzki said.
With the NL West vastly improved, the Rockies aren't exactly in the conversation as contenders. But they do boast Tulowitzki and Gonzalez, along with NL batting champ Justin Morneau and Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado.
''We're a nobody. That's OK with us,'' Arenado said. ''If we stay healthy, we're going to do some damage.''
Things to know as the Rockies try to get back on track:
TRADE RUMORS: Tulowitzki didn't pay too much attention to the trade rumors that popped up in the offseason. Should the Rockies fall out of contention early, those rumors could surface again. "I do know that rumors fly and rumors fly at a high rate these days with all the social media that's going on,'' Tulowitzki said.
YOUNG ROTATION: Lefty Jorge De La Rosa is dealing with a nagging groin injury this spring and righty Jhoulys Chacin was recently let go. That could pave the way for top prospects Eddie Butler and Jon Gray to work their way into the rotation. ''He's a talented kid,'' manager Walt Weiss said of Gray. ''Now it's just a matter of maturing and knowing he belongs.''
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Rockies had the worst road record (21-60) last season and hit almost 100 points lower away from home (.228) than at Coors Field (.322). ''Obviously there are some adjustments our hitters have to make, going away from our place,'' Weiss said.
GOLDEN INFIELD: Starter Kyle Kendrick certainly appreciates this infield, with Arenado, Tulowitzki and second baseman DJ LeMahieu all having earned a Gold Glove in their career. ''The defense is great,'' Kendrick said. ''You keep the ball down, you get ground balls, you're going to get outs.'' | | 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. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (COLORADO-PITTSBURGH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Rockies-Pirates Preview* =========================
By JEFF BARTL STATS Senior Writer
Colorado (51-75) at Pittsburgh (78-49), 1:35 p.m. EDT
It's been 11 years since two clubs from the same division finished at least 30 games over .500, and even longer since it last happened in the NL.
The Pittsburgh Pirates might contribute to ending that streak, but no matter how well they play, they still can't reach the top of the Central.
Pittsburgh sends Charlie Morton to the mound looking to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
The Pirates (79-49) are on the verge of moving 31 games over .500 for the first time since late in the 1992 season, but St. Louis possesses the majors' best record and sits atop the Central with a 3 1/2-game lead.
Not since Boston and the New York Yankees in 2004 have clubs in the same division finished 30 over .500, and it hasn't happened in the NL since Atlanta and the New York Mets in 1999.
Neither of those second-place teams, though, had to play a win-or-go-home wild-card game to qualify for the division series, which the Pirates could be facing for a third straight year under the modified postseason format. They're doing their best to avoid it, having won four straight and 14 of 17 after beating the Rockies 4-3 on Saturday.
"The goal is to win the division," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We're doing some things that have some significance I'll be mindful of later. We're in second place and we want to get to first place."
Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer and J.A. Happ continued his hot stretch with six solid innings Saturday. Andrew McCutchen had two hits and is batting .500 with two homers and three doubles during a seven-game hitting streak.
McCutchen is hitting .422 over his last 12 home games, raising his season average at PNC Park to .344. Morton (8-5, 4.20 ERA) also has been solid there, going 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts.
Morton lost at Miami on Monday, though, for Pittsburgh's lone defeat over its last eight contests. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in his previous five starts - all Pirates victories.
Colorado (51-76) has lost seven straight in Pittsburgh and is 4-14 overall since Aug. 10. Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer with nobody out in the ninth Saturday, but the Rockies couldn't muster the tying run.
Hundley, Ben Paulsen and Brandon Barnes finished with two hits apiece for Colorado, which sends Jorge De La Rosa (7-6, 4.61) to the mound in this contest.
De La Rosa went 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his first four outings this month before giving up five runs and walking four in seven innings of Monday's 5-3 loss at Atlanta. He also allowed two homers, one more than he gave up in his previous five outings combined.
"Jorge gave us seven good innings but it wasn't his sharpest," said manager Walt Weiss. "But he pitched fine."
The left-hander entered that contest with a 3.17 ERA in 10 previous road starts. It marked the second time he'd given up more than three earned runs outside of Colorado.
De La Rosa is 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA in his last nine starts against the Pirates, a stretch that includes going 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in his last five at PNC Park. Starling Marte has hit him well, going 4 for 6 with a homer and a triple in their matchups.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 10:33:01 AM EST. |
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