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MLB : ATS Matchup
Thursday 7/30/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
PITTSBURGH  BURNETT )
 
CINCINNATI  HOLMBERG )
-1.5  -105

+1.5  -115
-150

+140

9un
 
5
Final
15

PITTSBURGH (59 - 41) at CINCINNATI (45 - 54)
View Previous GameView Next Game
Thursday, 7/30/2015 7:10 PM
A.J. BURNETT (R) vs. DAVID HOLMBERG (L)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
957PITTSBURGH-140Ov 8.5,-105-145Ov 9,+100
958CINCINNATI+130Un 8.5,-115+135Un 9,-120
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
PITTSBURGH - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games59-41+10.444-474.10.2580.3090.3870.6973.50.2480.3030.3560.659
Road Games24-24-120-224.20.2580.3080.3840.6924.00.2610.3210.3720.692
vs Left-handed Starters10-8-0.37-104.10.2720.3220.3880.7103.40.2390.2960.3330.629
Past 7 Games5-2+2.85-25.60.2830.3160.4670.7844.90.2770.3300.4550.784
Grass Games59-41+10.444-474.10.2580.3090.3870.6973.50.2480.3030.3560.659
Night Games39-29+3.132-314.10.2540.3060.3810.6883.70.2520.3070.3650.672
Division17-24-11.420-173.70.2410.3030.3690.6724.10.2590.3210.3780.699
PITTSBURGH - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.10.2580.309100346589418513790.38738925881167714827511886
Road Games4.20.2580.308481723445965370.3841861244323635938465947
Lefty Starters4.10.2720.32218621169303120.38872461481713813151416
PITTSBURGH - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.711.194302.310491271279026216-1334979.1%
Road Games2.741.373141.3544314111531313-914573.7%

CINCINNATI - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games45-54-9.849-453.90.2510.3120.4010.7124.40.2480.3160.3990.715
Home Games25-22+0.527-174.60.2620.3280.4330.7614.60.2540.3220.4040.726
vs Left-handed Starters12-13-0.714-104.10.2550.3150.4200.7354.70.2410.3130.3950.708
Past 7 Games4-4+0.63-44.60.2760.3410.4000.7414.50.2420.2960.4200.716
Grass Games45-54-9.849-453.90.2510.3120.4010.7124.40.2480.3160.3990.715
Night Games34-33+2.833-313.90.2510.3110.4010.7114.10.2390.3070.3860.693
Division19-22+021-183.90.2400.3020.3860.6884.30.2430.3110.3960.706
CINCINNATI - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games3.90.2510.312993403853149171090.4013723027139270183517764
Home Games4.60.2620.328471606421736630.4332021573284133936153437
Lefty Starters4.10.2550.31525867221378300.42097761842516425121310
CINCINNATI - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games4.241.364305.71571442822813527315-20221264.7%
Home Games3.911.298165.77372147156816812-811761.1%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
PITTSBURGH - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/17/2015MORTON(R)@ MILWAUKEEFIERS(R)1-4L1108.5 ovU3516112
7/18/2015WORLEY(R)@ MILWAUKEENELSON(R)5-8L-1258 unO87213102
7/19/2015LOCKE(L)@ MILWAUKEEJUNGMANN(R)1-6L1258 unU6721150
7/20/2015BURNETT(R)@ KANSAS CITYVENTURA(R)10-7W1257 evO17801481
7/21/2015COLE(R)@ KANSAS CITYVARGAS(L)1-3L-1157 ovU892631
7/22/2015MORTON(R)@ KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R)1-5L1157.5 evU870960
7/23/2015LIRIANO(L)WASHINGTONFISTER(R)7-3W-1857 unO1370670
7/24/2015LOCKE(L)WASHINGTONSCHERZER(R)7-5W+1206.5 unO1251760
7/25/2015BURNETT(R)WASHINGTONGONZALEZ(L)3-9L-1457 ovO7521491
7/26/2015COLE(R)WASHINGTONROSS(R)3-1W-1607 unU530751
7/28/2015MORTON(R)@ MINNESOTAPELFREY(R)8-7W-1059.5 unO11921271
7/29/2015LIRIANO(L)@ MINNESOTASANTANA(R)10-4W-1308 unO13821293
7/30/2015LOCKE(L)@ CINCINNATIHOLMBERG(L) 
7/31/2015BURNETT(R)@ CINCINNATILORENZEN(R) 
8/1/2015COLE(R)@ CINCINNATIIGLESIAS(R) 
8/2/2015MORTON(R)@ CINCINNATILEAKE(R) 
8/3/2015LIRIANO(L)CHICAGO CUBSLESTER(L) 
8/4/2015LOCKE(L)CHICAGO CUBSARRIETA(R) 
8/5/2015 CHICAGO CUBS  

CINCINNATI - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/17/2015LEAKE(R)CLEVELANDBAUER(R)6-1W-1058.5 ovU1091681
7/18/2015DESCLAFANI(R)CLEVELANDKLUBER(R)4-9L+1457.5 unO8501170
7/19/2015CUETO(R)CLEVELANDCARRASCO(R)3-5L-1107 unO108113180
7/20/2015LORENZEN(R)CHICAGO CUBSRICHARD(L)5-4W-1109.5 unU840890
7/21/2015IGLESIAS(R)CHICAGO CUBSHAMMEL(R)4-5L+1158.5 unO1311012141
7/22/2015LEAKE(R)CHICAGO CUBSHENDRICKS(R)9-1W+1058 unO1380551
7/22/2015CINGRANI(L)CHICAGO CUBSBEELER(R)5-6L-1208.5 unO1312012101
7/24/2015DESCLAFANI(R)@ COLORADOBUTLER(R)5-6L10511 unP10801160
7/25/2015CUETO(R)@ COLORADORUSIN(L)5-2W-13010 unU1251652
7/26/2015LORENZEN(R)@ COLORADOKENDRICK(R)7-17L-11511.5 unO141101550
7/27/2015IGLESIAS(R)@ ST LOUISLYNN(R)1-4L1507.5 unU580770
7/28/2015LEAKE(R)@ ST LOUISGARCIA(L)4-0W1357 evU730450
7/29/2015DESCLAFANI(R)@ ST LOUISLACKEY(R)1-0W1557.5 unU230460
7/30/2015HOLMBERG(L)PITTSBURGHLOCKE(L) 
7/31/2015LORENZEN(R)PITTSBURGHBURNETT(R) 
8/1/2015IGLESIAS(R)PITTSBURGHCOLE(R) 
8/2/2015LEAKE(R)PITTSBURGHMORTON(R) 
8/4/2015DESCLAFANI(R)ST LOUISLACKEY(R) 
8/5/2015 ST LOUIS  
8/6/2015 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.
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:
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.''
---
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.
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Pirates-Reds Preview* ======================

By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (58-41) at Cincinnati (44-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT

A.J. Burnett acknowledges that maintaining his superb first-half statistics was unlikely, but he undoubtedly wanted a better showing after the All-Star break than his past two outings.

The veteran right-hander will try to end his brief slump and lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to their sixth win in seven games Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds, whom they've struggled to beat this season.

Burnett headed to his first All-Star Game in Cincinnati after going 7-3 with a 2.11 ERA, tied for the NL's second-best, and went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in three starts against the Reds.

In his two games since the break, he has allowed 11 runs and 22 hits in 11 2-3 innings. Burnett (8-4, 2.68 ERA) got enough support for a 10-7 win in Kansas City on July 20 but took a 9-3 loss to Washington on Saturday, his first in six starts since June 19.

"If you expect me to go out and do what I did in the first half, you're nuts," Burnett said. "I'm doing everything I can but that's ridiculous numbers and I mean execution is really the answer. The first half I executed, the last two starts I haven't."

The Pirates (59-41) have won three in a row since Burnett's loss and finished a two-game sweep in Minnesota with a 10-4 victory Wednesday.

Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the fifth and scored on two Twins errors following an RBI single in a five-run sixth. Jung Ho Kang, batting .462 in his last 10 games, went 3 for 5 with his second home run in as many contests.

The Pirates now seek to improve on a 2-7 record against the Reds. Pittsburgh opened its season being swept in a three-game series in Cincinnati and has dropped nine of 11 there.

The Reds (45-54) have lost 17 of 28 since their latest series with the Pirates, and dealing Johnny Cueto to Kansas City on Sunday signaled they are sellers ahead of Friday's trade deadline. One player rumored to be on the move, Jay Bruce, hit a solo homer in a 1-0 win in St. Louis on Wednesday, and another, Aroldis Chapman, converted his 12th consecutive save.

"It's one of those things where you try your best to be a professional and not let any of it bother you," Bruce told MLB's official website. "You hear what people say. But I'm on the Reds. I'm here to help these guys win games. This is all that I know."

David Holmberg will try to fill Cueto's sizable spot in the rotation in his season debut. Holmberg went 2-2 with a 4.80 ERA in seven appearances for Cincinnati last season, including five starts, and will make his first against Pittsburgh.

Aramis Ramirez is the only current Pirates hitter to have faced him, going 2 for 5 with a solo homer. He had his first hits in four games since returning to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, going 2 for 5.

Pittsburgh might need more production from Ramirez with Gregory Polanco's status unknown because of an ailing left knee. The outfielder was removed in the fourth inning Wednesday and failed to get a hit for just the third time in his past 19 games.

Cincinnati's Joey Votto, batting .550 in his last 12 games despite going 0 for 3 on Wednesday, is hitting .458 with three homers in his past six at home against Pittsburgh but is 1 for 9 versus Burnett this season. Bruce is 3 for 31 lifetime against the right-hander.

Brandon Phillips is batting .406 in a seven-game hit streak against Pittsburgh, and Todd Frazier is hitting .359 with five homers in a nine-game run.


Last Updated: 3/28/2024 7:10:38 AM EST.


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