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MIAMI ( PHELPS )
PITTSBURGH ( MORTON ) |
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| 961 | MIAMI | +125 | Ov 7.5,-110 | +125 | Ov 7.5,-105 | | 962 | PITTSBURGH | -135 | Un 7.5,-110 | -135 | Un 7.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 18-27 | -11.6 | 25-18 | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.312 | 0.364 | 0.676 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.315 | 0.379 | 0.694 | | Road Games | 8-12 | -2.5 | 14-5 | 4.2 | 0.264 | 0.320 | 0.380 | 0.701 | 4.3 | 0.269 | 0.330 | 0.426 | 0.756 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 13-25 | -14.6 | 20-18 | 3.6 | 0.255 | 0.303 | 0.352 | 0.655 | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.321 | 0.384 | 0.705 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4.2 | 2-5 | 3.1 | 0.234 | 0.285 | 0.305 | 0.589 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.314 | 0.319 | 0.633 | | Grass Games | 18-27 | -11.6 | 25-18 | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.312 | 0.364 | 0.676 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.315 | 0.379 | 0.694 | | Night Games | 11-17 | -7.1 | 14-13 | 3.5 | 0.247 | 0.303 | 0.347 | 0.650 | 4.5 | 0.263 | 0.328 | 0.383 | 0.711 |
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| All Games | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.312 | 45 | 1537 | 399 | 59 | 9 | 28 | 0.364 | 158 | 117 | 353 | 29 | 311 | 37 | 17 | 43 | 26 | | Road Games | 4.2 | 0.264 | 0.320 | 20 | 689 | 182 | 29 | 3 | 15 | 0.380 | 75 | 57 | 175 | 12 | 144 | 17 | 7 | 20 | 7 | | Righty Starters | 3.6 | 0.255 | 0.303 | 38 | 1300 | 331 | 47 | 5 | 23 | 0.352 | 127 | 91 | 292 | 26 | 257 | 30 | 15 | 36 | 25 |
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| All Games | 3.96 | 1.326 | 150 | 68 | 66 | 150 | 6 | 49 | 138 | 7-10 | 5 | 6 | 45.5% | | Road Games | 4.89 | 1.561 | 57 | 32 | 31 | 69 | 3 | 20 | 43 | 1-5 | 2 | 3 | 40% |
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| All Games | 21-22 | -4.6 | 18-20 | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.297 | 0.376 | 0.673 | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.307 | 0.351 | 0.659 | | Home Games | 12-9 | -0.1 | 12-7 | 4.5 | 0.251 | 0.302 | 0.393 | 0.695 | 3.8 | 0.251 | 0.300 | 0.371 | 0.671 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 19-18 | -1.7 | 16-17 | 4.0 | 0.243 | 0.293 | 0.371 | 0.665 | 3.3 | 0.243 | 0.302 | 0.351 | 0.653 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.2 | 3-4 | 4.7 | 0.282 | 0.330 | 0.437 | 0.766 | 2.9 | 0.217 | 0.278 | 0.298 | 0.576 | | Grass Games | 21-22 | -4.6 | 18-20 | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.297 | 0.376 | 0.673 | 3.5 | 0.246 | 0.307 | 0.351 | 0.659 | | Night Games | 12-15 | -6.6 | 12-13 | 3.6 | 0.225 | 0.276 | 0.336 | 0.612 | 3.7 | 0.260 | 0.313 | 0.368 | 0.681 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.297 | 43 | 1477 | 363 | 83 | 1 | 36 | 0.376 | 169 | 107 | 340 | 29 | 289 | 33 | 27 | 51 | 41 | | Home Games | 4.5 | 0.251 | 0.302 | 21 | 690 | 173 | 38 | 0 | 20 | 0.393 | 89 | 51 | 136 | 14 | 127 | 17 | 8 | 25 | 13 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.243 | 0.293 | 37 | 1279 | 311 | 75 | 1 | 29 | 0.371 | 143 | 91 | 289 | 26 | 249 | 28 | 20 | 47 | 33 |
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| All Games | 2.88 | 1.243 | 134.3 | 47 | 43 | 123 | 10 | 44 | 123 | 4-10 | 11 | 4 | 73.3% | | Home Games | 3.26 | 1.070 | 66.3 | 26 | 24 | 58 | 6 | 13 | 57 | 3-3 | 7 | 1 | 87.5% |
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| 5/11/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | 3-5 | L | 190 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 5/12/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ LA DODGERS | BOLSINGER(R) | 1-11 | L | 145 | 7.5 un | O | 5 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 12 | 0 | | 5/13/2015 | COSART(R) | @ LA DODGERS | FRIAS(R) | 5-4 | W | 150 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | PHELPS(R) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 3-5 | L | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 5/16/2015 | LATOS(R) | ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | 3-5 | L | -120 | 7 ov | O | 10 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2 | | 5/17/2015 | ALVAREZ(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 0-6 | L | -120 | 7 ov | U | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 5/18/2015 | HAREN(R) | ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | 2-3 | L | -120 | 8 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | ARIZONA | HELLICKSON(R) | 2-4 | L | -140 | 8 ev | U | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | PHELPS(R) | ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | 1-6 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | LATOS(R) | ARIZONA | BRADLEY(R) | 6-7 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | ALVAREZ(R) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 5-8 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | HAREN(R) | BALTIMORE | WRIGHT(R) | 1-0 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 5/24/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | 5-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | PHELPS(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | LATOS(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | | | 5/27/2015 | ALVAREZ(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | HAREN(R) | @ NY METS | GEE(R) | | | 5/30/2015 | KOEHLER(R) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | PHELPS(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | | | 6/1/2015 | | CHICAGO CUBS | | |
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| 5/11/2015 | COLE(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | 4-3 | W | -165 | 7.5 ov | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 5/12/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | 7-2 | W | -150 | 8.5 ov | O | 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 5/13/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 2-3 | L | -125 | 6.5 ev | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 5/14/2015 | WORLEY(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 2-4 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 5/15/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 10-11 | L | 120 | 9.5 ov | O | 15 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | COLE(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 1-4 | L | -110 | 8 ov | U | 11 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 5/17/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 3-0 | W | 130 | 10 un | U | 8 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 5-8 | L | -160 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | | 5/20/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | COLE(R) | NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 6.5 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | BURNETT(R) | NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 8-2 | W | -115 | 6.5 ov | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 5/24/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | 9-1 | W | -180 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | MORTON(R) | MIAMI | PHELPS(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MIAMI | LATOS(R) | | | 5/27/2015 | COLE(R) | MIAMI | ALVAREZ(R) | | | 5/28/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | | | 5/30/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | | | 6/1/2015 | | @ SAN FRANCISCO | | |
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| |  | MIAMI: MIAMI (AP) - Two transactions midway through spring training that drew little notice heralded significant progress for the Miami Marlins.
Top pitching prospects Jose Urena and Justin Nicolino were optioned to the minor leagues - moves reflecting the franchise's improved depth of talent. This season, for a change, the front office doesn't feel compelled to rush youngsters like Urena and Nicolino to the majors.
''In previous years they would probably already be in the big leagues,'' president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. ''We've really tried to change that, be fair to the player and allow them to have the necessary growing pains in the minor leagues so when they do get to the big leagues, they can hit the ground running.''
When Urena and Nicolino do reach the majors, they might be joining a contender. Following a busy offseason highlighted by the signing of Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million contract, Miami's expectations are unusually lofty.
The Marlins don't talk just about finishing above .500 for the first time since 2009. They want to end an 11-year playoff drought.
''I love the talent we've been able to assemble,'' Hill said. ''If we handle our business, I'm pretty excited about where that will lead.''
While Stanton draws the biggest headlines, it might be the Marlins' rotation that separates them from the pack. They enter the season with five solid starters, and that doesn't include ace Jose Fernandez, the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year, who is projected to return from elbow surgery at midseason.
Miami acquired Mat Latos and Dan Haren in offseason deals, and they join Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Tom Koehler. Latos is 56-40 since 2010, and the others each won at least 10 games last year, with a combined record of 48-39. Newcomer David Phelps, who is 12-11 as a starter, provides depth and can also relieve.
''I like our rotation,'' manager Mike Redmond said. ''These guys have gone out and competed for a long time and have a lot of experience, which is nice.''
Other things to know about the baseball buzz building in South Florida:
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Stanton appears poised for another big year after being knocked out of the 2014 NL MVP race when a beaning ended his season in September. He led the NL in slugging and homers despite missing the final 17 games.
During spring training batting practice, new teammate Phelps noted that Stanton hits balls to the opposite field farther than most players can pull them. And he doesn't just outslug everybody.
''We ran shuttles the first week of camp and I figured he was a good athlete,'' Phelps said. ''But I didn't expect him to be outrunning everybody, too.''
TRENDING UPWARD: Miami went 62-100 under Redmond two years ago, and then ended a streak of three consecutive last-place finishes in the NL East by going 77-85 in 2014. The 15-win improvement tied for the best in the National League by a 100-loss team since 1986.
Among the players still around from that young, awful 2013 team are Stanton, Fernandez, Alvarez, Koehler, left fielder Christian Yelich, center fielder Marcell Ozuna and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.
''The fun part is to see the excitement in guys now, and for them to talk about how far we've come in a short amount of time,'' Redmond said. ''As tough as it was at the time, I knew we would be better off for it, because we got some guys a lot of experience.''
STILL YOUNG: With the addition such veterans as Latos, Haren, third baseman Martin Prado, second baseman Dee Gordon and first baseman Michael Morse, the payroll is expected to be above $70 million. That's the highest for the Marlins since 2012, and an increase of about 50 percent from last year.
Even so, the Marlins remain young. Fernandez, Alvarez, Cosart, Stanton, Yelich, Ozuna and Hechavarria are all under 26. That creates a clubhouse environment foreign to Phelps, a right-hander acquired in a trade with the Yankees.
''It's a lot of young, talented players,'' said Phelps, 28, accustomed to being surrounded by the likes of Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia. ''It's really a breath of fresh air just to come in and have a core in place that is younger than me.''
Most of the Marlins have never played on a contending team, which raises some skepticism about their chances. But Alvarez predicted the Marlins will be playing games that matter late this season for a change.
''We're going to surprise a lot of people,'' he said. | | 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 (MIAMI-PITTSBURGH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Marlins-Pirates Preview* =========================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Miami (17-27) at Pittsburgh (20-22), 7:05 p.m. EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff turned in an impressive weekend, and their next man in line has more at stake than continuing the club's recent form.
Charlie Morton makes his season debut Monday night trying to prove he belongs in the rotation after a disquieting spring as the Pirates conclude an eight-game homestand with three against the Miami Marlins.
Morton has been on the disabled list all season after spring training struggles followed offseason hip surgery. The right-hander made three rehab starts, going 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA with Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He struck out 22 and walked six over 20 1-3 innings.
He last pitched with the big league club on April 4, surrendering five runs and six hits with five walks in 1 2-3 innings of his final spring game against Philadelphia.
The right-hander replaces Vance Worley in the rotation, and he's probably pleased the debut is coming at home. Over the past two seasons, Morton was 6-6 with a 2.59 ERA in 21 starts at PNC Park and 7-10 with a 4.34 in 25 road starts.
He's been strong regardless of location against Miami in that time, going 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts, though Giancarlo Stanton is 7 for 15 lifetime against him.
The Pirates (21-22) completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with Sunday's 9-1 victory, surrendering four runs in the series and putting themselves in position to get back to .500 after dropping six of seven.
They've had three straight starters strikeout at least 10 batters for the first time since 1969, but a fourth, which would be an MLB first dating to 1914, seems unlikely considering Morton has done it once in 134 starts.
Pittsburgh also got it together offensively, scoring 21 runs for its top production in any series this season, including four-game sets.
"We needed this weekend. We needed to play some ball," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "We played good team baseball this weekend. Everyone threw something in."
Josh Harrison is batting .468 on an 11-game hitting streak and was 10 for 22 against the Marlins last season. More importantly for Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen is as hot as he's been this year, going 9 for 15 with three homers and two doubles in four games. Since the start of 2012, he's batting .438 against Miami - his best mark against any NL team.
The Marlins (18-27) are also hinting at getting back on their feet, though their recent struggles were far more substantial with 11 losses in 12 games. That was before consecutive wins to conclude a three-game series with Baltimore.
Sunday's 5-2 victory came despite Stanton going 0 for 3 and dipping to 3 for 30 in his last eight. Martin Prado went 2 for 4 with a home run and has a nine-game hitting streak against the Pirates.
Dan Jennings improved to 2-5 since taking over managerial duties.
"Wins are like doughnuts," Jennings said. "You like them so much you want to keep eating them."
David Phelps will try to continue feeding his boss. Phelps (2-1, 3.21 ERA) is coming off his worst start after allowing four runs and five hits with three walks in five innings in Wednesday's 6-1 home loss to Arizona. The right-hander had gone his first six starts with a 1.75 ERA. Most of his success has come on the road, where he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts.
His only start against Pittsburgh went better, limiting it to five hits in five scoreless innings of a victory with the New York Yankees last May.
Dating to 2012, the Pirates have won 12 of 17 in the series, including eight of nine in Pittsburgh.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 8:48:41 PM EST. |
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