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PITTSBURGH ( LIRIANO )
ARIZONA ( HELLICKSON ) |
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| 909 | PITTSBURGH | -140 | Ov 8,-110 | -140 | Ov 8,-105 | | 910 | ARIZONA | +130 | Un 8,-110 | +130 | Un 8,-115 |
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| All Games | 10-8 | +0.9 | 8-7 | 3.9 | 0.223 | 0.265 | 0.364 | 0.628 | 3.3 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 0.341 | 0.631 | | Road Games | 4-4 | -0.1 | 3-4 | 3.7 | 0.223 | 0.269 | 0.353 | 0.622 | 3.1 | 0.219 | 0.276 | 0.347 | 0.623 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 10-7 | +2.4 | 7-7 | 3.7 | 0.221 | 0.260 | 0.358 | 0.618 | 3.0 | 0.230 | 0.285 | 0.328 | 0.613 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.6 | 2-3 | 4.3 | 0.226 | 0.267 | 0.378 | 0.646 | 3.6 | 0.265 | 0.318 | 0.339 | 0.657 | | Grass Games | 10-8 | +0.9 | 8-7 | 3.9 | 0.223 | 0.265 | 0.364 | 0.628 | 3.3 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 0.341 | 0.631 | | Day Games | 4-2 | +2 | 3-1 | 4.8 | 0.261 | 0.293 | 0.442 | 0.735 | 3.3 | 0.198 | 0.257 | 0.326 | 0.584 |
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| All Games | 3.9 | 0.223 | 0.265 | 18 | 583 | 130 | 31 | 0 | 17 | 0.364 | 70 | 33 | 147 | 11 | 95 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 18 | | Road Games | 3.7 | 0.223 | 0.269 | 8 | 269 | 60 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0.353 | 30 | 17 | 80 | 5 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | | Righty Starters | 3.7 | 0.221 | 0.260 | 17 | 548 | 121 | 30 | 0 | 15 | 0.358 | 62 | 29 | 139 | 11 | 90 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 18 |
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| All Games | 3.68 | 1.208 | 51.3 | 24 | 21 | 48 | 4 | 14 | 54 | 2-5 | 6 | 2 | 75% | | Road Games | 2.08 | 1.108 | 21.7 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 1-3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
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| All Games | 8-9 | +0.9 | 7-10 | 4.2 | 0.246 | 0.302 | 0.356 | 0.657 | 3.9 | 0.260 | 0.314 | 0.410 | 0.724 | | Home Games | 4-6 | -1.8 | 4-6 | 3.8 | 0.236 | 0.293 | 0.325 | 0.618 | 4.4 | 0.264 | 0.322 | 0.424 | 0.746 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 3-1 | +3.4 | 2-2 | 5.2 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.385 | 0.691 | 3.5 | 0.233 | 0.304 | 0.329 | 0.633 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.8 | 2-5 | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.306 | 0.333 | 0.639 | 3.3 | 0.228 | 0.278 | 0.336 | 0.614 | | Grass Games | 8-9 | +0.9 | 7-10 | 4.2 | 0.246 | 0.302 | 0.356 | 0.657 | 3.9 | 0.260 | 0.314 | 0.410 | 0.724 | | Day Games | 1-1 | +0.3 | 1-1 | 4.5 | 0.254 | 0.284 | 0.352 | 0.636 | 4.0 | 0.338 | 0.382 | 0.577 | 0.959 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.246 | 0.302 | 17 | 593 | 146 | 22 | 5 | 11 | 0.356 | 67 | 47 | 131 | 14 | 121 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 7 | | Home Games | 3.8 | 0.236 | 0.293 | 10 | 335 | 79 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0.325 | 36 | 27 | 77 | 7 | 68 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | | Lefty Starters | 5.2 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 4 | 148 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0.385 | 21 | 12 | 31 | 2 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
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| All Games | 4.14 | 1.340 | 50 | 24 | 23 | 50 | 7 | 17 | 32 | 2-3 | 1 | 1 | 50% | | Home Games | 4.41 | 1.356 | 34.7 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
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| 4/12/2015 | SADLER(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 10-2 | W | 100 | 8.5 ov | O | 13 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | COLE(R) | DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 5-4 | W | -135 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | BURNETT(R) | DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 0-2 | L | -110 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | DETROIT | SIMON(R) | 0-1 | L | -145 | 7.5 un | U | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | WORLEY(R) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 6-3 | W | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 4/18/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 6-2 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | COLE(R) | MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 5-2 | W | -170 | 7 un | P | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | 4/20/2015 | BURNETT(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 2-5 | L | -105 | 7 ov | P | 5 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | 8-9 | L | -150 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | WORLEY(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-3 | W | -110 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 2 | | 4/23/2015 | LOCKE(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 5-4 | W | +110 | 7 ev | O | 10 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | | 4/24/2015 | COLE(R) | @ ARIZONA | COLLMENTER(R) | 4-1 | W | -125 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | 2-1 | W | -130 | 9 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 4/26/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | WORLEY(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | COLE(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ ST LOUIS | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ ST LOUIS | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ ST LOUIS | | |
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| 4/12/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | 4-7 | L | +130 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 2 | | 4/13/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 8-4 | W | 150 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 1 | | 4/14/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | 1-5 | L | 120 | 6.5 un | U | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 4/15/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | MORROW(R) | 2-3 | L | 120 | 6.5 un | U | 9 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 4/16/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | 7-6 | W | 160 | 6.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | PEAVY(R) | 9-0 | W | 130 | 7 un | O | 18 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 4/18/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | 1-4 | L | 130 | 7 ev | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | 5-1 | W | 130 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | TEXAS | MARTINEZ(R) | 1-7 | L | -140 | 9 ov | U | 7 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | | 4/22/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 8-5 | W | -110 | 8.5 ev | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | 4/24/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 1-4 | L | +115 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | DE LA ROSA(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 1-2 | L | +120 | 9 un | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | HELLICKSON(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 4/27/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | BRADLEY(R) | COLORADO | LYLES(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | COLLMENTER(R) | COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ LA DODGERS | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ LA DODGERS | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ LA DODGERS | | |
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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. | | ARIZONA: PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona's desert overhaul began last summer with the hire of Tony La Russa as chief baseball officer.
More hires followed: Dave Stewart as general manager, Joe Carter and De Jon Watson to front-office positions, Chip Hale as the new manager.
Now that the brain trust is in place, it's time to see what the new-look Diamondbacks can do on the field.
''I don't have a crystal ball. I just know we'll be competitive,'' La Russa said. ''I've said before, I'll be broken-hearted if we don't have a winning record this year.''
Arizona has fallen hard since winning the 2011 NL West crown, putting together a pair of .500 seasons before dropping to 64-98 a year ago, the worst record in baseball and second-worst in franchise history.
Some of it was injuries; the Diamondbacks lost three pitchers to Tommy John surgery and seemed to have every one of their top players get hurt at some point.
But La Russa and the rest of the front office also saw need for changes, which began during the trade deadline and continued during the offseason.
Gone are catcher Miguel Montero, third baseman Martin Prado, shortstop Didi Gregorius, along with pitchers Wade Miley and Brandon McCarthy.
Even with the losses, Arizona's lineup should be potent.
A.J. Pollock, Mark Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt are all healthy after missing games last season and David Peralta returns in right field after a solid rookie season. Arizona also picked up Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, who has potentially game-changing power.
But, as has been the case in the desert, pitching will be the big question
Arizona traded Miley to Boston and its opening day starter will be Josh Collmenter, an over-the-top-throwing right-hander who has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation during his four big-league seasons.
Patrick Corbin and Bronson Arroyo were part of the rotation last season, but both underwent Tommy John surgery and aren't expected to return until at least midseason.
The Diamondbacks picked up right-hander Rubby De La Rosa in the Miley trade and right-hander Jeremy Hellickson in another deal with Tampa Bay. Arizona also signed 21-year-old Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez, who is competing for a spot in the rotation, and has right-handers Chase Anderson and Trevor Cahill back from last season.
For all the potential the Diamondbacks have with their bats, it won't matter much if the pitchers don't come through.
A few more things to look for from the 2015 Arizona Diamondbacks:
GOLDY SHINES: Goldschmidt was having another stellar season in 2014 when he was derailed by a broken hand at the start of August. Before his injury, the All-Star first baseman had become one of the best power hitters in the game and was runner-up in the NL MVP race in 2013, when he hit .302 with 26 homers and 125 RBIs. He felt good throughout spring training and expected to be back giving the Diamondbacks some consistent pop in the lineup.
REPLACING MONTERO: Arizona took a gamble during the offseason by trading Montero to the Chicago Cubs. A two-time All-Star, Montero was a steadying influence in the clubhouse and behind the plate, not to mention a power bat in the lineup. Now that he's gone, the Diamondbacks will turn to 31-year-old Tuffy Gosewisch, who has 179 career at-bats and didn't break into the majors until 2013 after eight years in the minors.
ADDING TOMAS: The Diamondbacks made a bit of an international splash by signing Tomas to a six-year, $68 million contract. The dilemma now is to figure out where to play him and how quickly he can adjust to playing in the big leagues. Arizona would like to play the 24-year-old at third base, but could move him to the outfield if he can't make the transition to a position he's never played. Tomas has plenty of raw ability and is young, so the Diamondbacks have high hopes for him - wherever he ends up playing.
HUDSON'S RETURN: Daniel Hudson was a consistent performer on Arizona's staff before having Tommy John surgery each of the past two seasons. He returned last September, pitching in the bullpen. The right-hander is expected to start the season in the bullpen, but could find a place back in the rotation if he remains healthy. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-ARIZONA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Diamondbacks Preview* ==============================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (9-8) at Arizona (8-8), 4:10 p.m. EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates had one of the majors' most effective rotations heading to Arizona.
That hasn't changed in two games against a Diamondbacks lineup that's laboring.
Francisco Liriano will try to help the Pirates to a fifth consecutive win and first three-game sweep in Arizona on Sunday.
Pittsburgh's starters had a 3.03 ERA before this series and has lowered it to 2.79 by allowing one run in a pair of wins. The Pirates (10-8) claimed a 2-1 victory Saturday with Starling Marte's RBI single in the ninth.
They've won four in a row in April for the first time in 2008. Their last five-game win streak in that month was in 2007.
"It's another thing we had on our to-do list coming in," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We're working hard to get better every single day collectively as a club."
The next item on Liriano's to-do list is procure his first win. The left-hander has received a combined four runs of support in three starts.
The left-hander (0-1, 3.00 ERA) left Tuesday's start against the Chicago Cubs with the Pirates trailing by a run. He gave up three runs and three hits in five innings in a 9-8 loss while striking out nine.
Liriano will next face an Arizona lineup that's batting .218 in its last six games and has scored one run in four of those contests. The Diamondbacks (8-9) hit .261 and plated 54 runs in their first 11 games.
Paul Goldschmidt is 2 for 13 with seven men left on base in his last four games, but three of his four hits against lefties on the season have been homers.
The Pirates will try to keep Arizona at bay again while recording their first sweep in the series since September 2010. Their only sweep at Chase Field was in two games in August 1998, the Diamondbacks' first season.
Jeremy Hellickson will try to prevent that by extending a streak of solid efforts by Arizona's starters. The Diamondbacks rotation has given up three earned runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings in nine consecutive games, its longest streak since an 11-game run in September 2008.
"It's contagious," Hellickson said. "If a guy throw six, seven innings and does well, you don't want to be that guy who goes out and throw four or five."
Hellickson (1-2, 4.58) snapped an 11-start winless streak and earned his first win with Arizona last Sunday, yielding one run in 6 2-3 innings in a 5-1 victory in San Francisco. The righty, who will be facing the Pirates for the first time, had a 6.55 ERA in losing his first two outings for the Diamondbacks.
Liriano has a 3.00 ERA without a decision in two career starts against Arizona, both at Chase Field. He gave up two runs in six innings in his only meeting in 2014, a 3-2 loss in 10 innings Aug. 3.
Marte, batting .357 with 11 RBIs in his last nine contests, has hit safely in all 15 career games against Arizona, going 22 for 63 (.349) with 10 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.
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| | Last Updated: 4/16/2024 2:58:42 PM EST. |
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