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MLB : ATS Matchup
Monday 4/27/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
PITTSBURGH  WORLEY )
 
CHICAGO CUBS  HAMMEL )
+1.5  -190

-1.5  +165
+110

-120

7un
 
0
Final
4

PITTSBURGH (11 - 8) at CHICAGO CUBS (10 - 7)
View Previous GameView Next Game
Monday, 4/27/2015 8:05 PM
VANCE WORLEY (R) vs. JASON HAMMEL (R)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
957PITTSBURGH+120Ov 7,-120+110Ov 7,-125
958CHICAGO CUBS-130Un 7,+100-120Un 7,+105
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
PITTSBURGH - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games11-8+1.98-74.20.2320.2740.3680.6423.20.2290.2900.3310.621
Road Games5-4+0.93-44.20.2400.2870.3640.6502.80.2080.2770.3240.601
vs Right-handed Starters11-7+3.47-73.90.2300.2700.3630.6332.80.2250.2850.3180.603
Past 7 Games5-2+2.62-34.70.2470.2830.3890.6723.30.2570.3270.3320.659
Grass Games11-8+1.98-74.20.2320.2740.3680.6423.20.2290.2900.3310.621
Night Games6-6-1.15-63.50.2030.2500.3230.5733.30.2520.3050.3480.653
Division7-6+0.47-34.60.2380.2880.3900.6783.90.2410.2950.3610.657
PITTSBURGH - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.20.2320.27419622144340170.3687836155111047101420
Road Games4.20.2400.28793087420060.36438208855634413
Righty Starters3.90.2300.27018587135330150.36370321471199781420
PITTSBURGH - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games3.501.18554242149415562-56275%
Road Games1.851.06824.3651818251-32166.7%

CHICAGO CUBS - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games10-7+2.29-64.60.2420.3140.3850.6993.90.2410.2840.3730.657
Home Games4-4-14-43.60.2210.3000.3480.6483.50.2280.2720.3300.601
vs Right-handed Starters9-5+37-54.60.2410.3130.3880.7013.50.2300.2700.3520.622
Past 7 Games4-3+14-15.00.2580.3140.3830.6974.10.2290.2750.3920.666
Grass Games10-7+2.29-64.60.2420.3140.3850.6993.90.2410.2840.3730.657
Night Games6-3+2.84-45.20.2720.3420.4490.7913.80.2370.2810.3540.635
Division7-4+2.64-54.50.2450.3110.3880.6993.30.2180.2670.3380.605
CHICAGO CUBS - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.60.2420.31417587142284160.3857362158191251113614
Home Games3.60.2210.30082675911170.3482630749623637
Righty Starters4.60.2410.31314485117233140.388605112518103910613
CHICAGO CUBS - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.841.08857191846416565-24450%
Home Games2.390.91126.3771826212-11233.3%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
PITTSBURGH - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
4/13/2015COLE(R)DETROITSANCHEZ(R)5-4W-1357.5 unO940730
4/14/2015BURNETT(R)DETROITGREENE(R)0-2L-1107.5 unU3209100
4/15/2015LIRIANO(L)DETROITSIMON(R)0-1L-1457.5 unU220540
4/17/2015WORLEY(R)MILWAUKEENELSON(R)6-3W-1257.5 unO1160881
4/18/2015LOCKE(L)MILWAUKEELOHSE(R)6-2W-1407.5 unO760530
4/19/2015COLE(R)MILWAUKEEGARZA(R)5-2W-1707 unP761642
4/20/2015BURNETT(R)CHICAGO CUBSARRIETA(R)2-5L-1057 ovP5421491
4/21/2015LIRIANO(L)CHICAGO CUBSWOOD(L)8-9L-1507 ovO9521290
4/22/2015WORLEY(R)CHICAGO CUBSHAMMEL(R)4-3W-1107.5 unU76110102
4/23/2015LOCKE(L)CHICAGO CUBSHENDRICKS(R)5-4W+1107 evO1070842
4/24/2015COLE(R)@ ARIZONACOLLMENTER(R)4-1W-1258 ovU750780
4/25/2015BURNETT(R)@ ARIZONADE LA ROSA(R)2-1W-1309 unU750881
4/26/2015LIRIANO(L)@ ARIZONAHELLICKSON(R)8-0W-1308 ovP1492380
4/27/2015WORLEY(R)@ CHICAGO CUBSHAMMEL(R) 
4/28/2015LOCKE(L)@ CHICAGO CUBSHENDRICKS(R) 
4/29/2015COLE(R)@ CHICAGO CUBSLESTER(L) 
5/1/2015 @ ST LOUIS  
5/2/2015 @ ST LOUIS  
5/3/2015 @ ST LOUIS  

CHICAGO CUBS - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
4/13/2015LESTER(L)CINCINNATILEAKE(R)7-6W-1407.5 unO10711360
4/14/2015ARRIETA(R)CINCINNATIDESCLAFANI(R)2-3L-1457 unU570750
4/15/2015WOOD(L)CINCINNATIMARQUIS(R)5-0W-1407 unU11100462
4/17/2015HAMMEL(R)SAN DIEGOSHIELDS(R)4-5L-1207.5 ovO771842
4/18/2015HENDRICKS(R)SAN DIEGOROSS(R)7-6W-1157 unO121311051
4/19/2015LESTER(L)SAN DIEGOCASHNER(R)2-5L-1206.5 ovO7901062
4/20/2015ARRIETA(R)@ PITTSBURGHBURNETT(R)5-2W-1057 ovP1491542
4/21/2015WOOD(L)@ PITTSBURGHLIRIANO(L)9-8W1407 ovO1290952
4/22/2015HAMMEL(R)@ PITTSBURGHWORLEY(R)3-4L1007.5 unU10102761
4/23/2015HENDRICKS(R)@ PITTSBURGHLOCKE(L)4-5L-1207 evO8421070
4/24/2015LESTER(L)@ CINCINNATILEAKE(R)7-3W-1057 ovO950881
4/26/2015ARRIETA(R)@ CINCINNATIDESCLAFANI(R)5-2W-1157 unP640672
4/27/2015HAMMEL(R)PITTSBURGHWORLEY(R) 
4/28/2015HENDRICKS(R)PITTSBURGHLOCKE(L) 
4/29/2015LESTER(L)PITTSBURGHCOLE(R) 
5/1/2015 MILWAUKEE  
5/2/2015 MILWAUKEE  
5/3/2015 MILWAUKEE  
5/4/2015 @ ST LOUIS  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
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:
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
CHICAGO CUBS: CHICAGO (AP) - Standing in the shade on a beautiful afternoon in Arizona, Jon Lester embraced the question that hovers over the Chicago Cubs these days.
When it comes to all those highly touted prospects, Lester said the time is now.
''When I played in Boston, we didn't have time to grow up,'' the left-hander explained. ''You just had to show up and play, and each year you're expected to win, so that's how I feel. Every year they should come in and expect to be not only division winners, but World Series champions. If you don't have that mindset, then I think you're playing for the wrong reasons.''
Heady stuff for a franchise known mostly for futility, but the Cubs think it's a new era after five consecutive losing seasons.
The shift in thinking for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and the rest of the front office was evident during an aggressive offseason that included the addition of Joe Maddon after the veteran manager opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay, and a $155 million, six-year contract to add Lester.
The hiring of Maddon meant dumping Rick Renteria after just one year, and Lester's deal is a significant investment for a pitcher who turned 31 in January. But looking at their good young core and rich minor league system, the Cubs felt it was time to act.
''There's a lot of talent here. Now it's about executing,'' Lester said. ''It's going out and playing good baseball for six months. It's hard to do. But that's why we're here. We're going to figure it out as we go.''
The Cubs, who also acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler and catcher Miguel Montero in trades, should be much improved after their 73-89 finish in 2014. But going from last place to the playoffs could depend more on the development of Chicago's top prospects than its newest players.
Jorge Soler takes over in right field after making his major league debut in August and drawing raves for his approach at the plate in the season's final month. Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Kris Bryant - all 20-something position players with considerable potential - also are key to the Cubs' chance for a breakthrough.
''You don't really read enough about their personalities and their makeup. That to me makes them real prospects,'' Maddon said. ''There's a lot of guys who throw 95 mph and hit balls out of sight. But with the makeup, personality and character ... that's what really turns me on to this group.''
Here are a few more things to watch with the Cubs:
UNDER THE RADAR: Jake Arrieta was a pleasant surprise, finishing with a 10-5 record and a sparkling 2.53 ERA in 25 starts last year. He struck out 167 in 156 2-3 innings and allowed just five homers.
Arrieta, 29, began last season on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness but looked healthy this spring and could team with Lester to give Chicago a potent top of the rotation.
''There's always room to improve. There's always things to get better at,'' Arrieta said. ''There's a right way to go about doing that, and I think that there's some things that I can clean up and kind of use in regard to what I did last season to make it even better.''
AT THE PLATE: The Cubs struck out a major league-high 1,477 times last season, and their .300 on-base percentage was 28th among 30 teams. They had six players with at least 100 strikeouts.
The addition of Fowler, who had a .375 on-base percentage last season with Houston, should help the top of the order, and the pressure is on new hitting coach John Mallee to help Baez and the other young hitters make more consistent contact.
IN THE DUGOUT: Maddon is one of the game's most creative managers, and the move to the NL and one of the game's most quirky ballparks in Wrigley Field could lead to all sorts of different lineups. He could put the pitcher in the eighth slot in the lineup in some situations. Pretty much everything is on the table when it comes to Maddon.
IN THE FIELD: The majors' second-oldest ballpark is undergoing a major renovation that could affect its notoriously fickle wind, which can turn innocent fly balls into homers and long drives into outs. A massive new videoboard is expected to be in place by opening day, but the bleachers will be under construction for the first part of the season. How the work on the ballpark affects the the field remains to be seen.
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CHICAGO CUBS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Pirates-Cubs Preview* ======================

By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Pittsburgh (11-8) at Chicago (10-7), 8:05 p.m. EDT

It's a small sample size, but for the Chicago Cubs so far, the kids are all right.

Addison Russell was the latest rookie to make a contribution, and he's expected to make his Wrigley Field debut Monday night when the Cubs host a Pittsburgh Pirates team in search of its sixth straight win.

The 21-year-old was called up last week, joining fellow highly touted prospects Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler in the big leagues as Chicago (10-7) appears to have finished rebuilding. While Russell has yet to find his offensive stride - he's just 3 for 22 in his first five games - he did deliver a bases-loaded double to cap a four-run fourth in Sunday's 5-2 victory at Cincinnati.

"I'm just understanding this whole process," Russell said. "It may be overnight, it may take a few games, it may take a few at-bats. I'm just trying to stay patient and stay with my approach and believe in my talent."

His first appearance at the Friendly Confines, where he told MLB.com's official website that his parents and fiancee will be in attendance, could provide an additional sense of ease.

"He's going to keep coming offensively," manager Joe Maddon said. "Defensively, he'll get more used to playing where he's supposed to be, and that's when you'll see even better play at second base."

Bryant went 0 for 4 with a run scored but he's still batting .333 over his first nine major league games. Soler, though, could be in line for a day off since he's 0 for 15 with 10 strikeouts over his last four games.

Vance Worley (2-1, 4.00 ERA) kept the trio in check Wednesday in a 4-3 victory, limiting them to two hits in 12 combined at-bates. It was part of a workmanlike effort by the right-hander, who yielded an unearned run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings to improve to 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five lifetime starts versus Chicago.

The Pirates (11-8) started their winning streak by taking the final two games of their four-game set versus the Cubs and are coming off a three-game sweep at Arizona. Francisco Liriano and three relievers combined on a three-hitter as Pittsburgh rolled to an 8-0 win Sunday, giving the starters a 1.71 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 31 2-3 innings during the Pirates' run.

"We're playing better baseball and it continues to start with our mound work," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Neil Walker went 3 for 4 with a two-run double, capping a successful series in which he went 7 for 12 and extended his hitting streak to nine games. The second baseman has also enjoyed success against scheduled Cubs starter Travis Wood (1-1, 3.24), going 7 for 20 with a homer and two doubles

Wood did not get a decision Tuesday against Pittsburgh, yielding three runs - two on solo homers - and four hits in five-plus innings before Chicago rallied for a 9-8 win. The left-hander's lone start at home in the young season was a good one - scattering three hits and two walks in seven innings of a 5-0 victory over Cincinnati.

He has yet to beat the Pirates at Wrigley Field, however, going 0-5 with a 5.28 ERA in six starts, and Wood was tagged for seven runs and nine hits in 1 2-3 innings of the most recent one - a 10-4 defeat Sept. 7.


Last Updated: 3/19/2024 2:50:10 AM EST.


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