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COLORADO ( GRAY )
PITTSBURGH ( LIRIANO ) |
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| 903 | COLORADO | +220 | Ov 7,-125 | +225 | Ov 7,-115 | | 904 | PITTSBURGH | -240 | Un 7,+105 | -250 | Un 7,-105 |
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| All Games | 51-74 | -15.4 | 66-55 | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.316 | 0.437 | 0.753 | 5.4 | 0.282 | 0.350 | 0.461 | 0.811 | | Road Games | 24-38 | -5 | 31-29 | 3.5 | 0.235 | 0.281 | 0.386 | 0.667 | 4.6 | 0.264 | 0.336 | 0.432 | 0.768 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 5-21 | -15.8 | 14-12 | 3.7 | 0.257 | 0.298 | 0.391 | 0.689 | 5.9 | 0.296 | 0.364 | 0.480 | 0.845 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | +0.2 | 4-3 | 5.1 | 0.267 | 0.320 | 0.458 | 0.779 | 6.3 | 0.302 | 0.387 | 0.520 | 0.907 | | Grass Games | 51-74 | -15.4 | 66-55 | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.316 | 0.437 | 0.753 | 5.4 | 0.282 | 0.350 | 0.461 | 0.811 | | Night Games | 28-54 | -21.5 | 43-35 | 4.1 | 0.267 | 0.308 | 0.423 | 0.731 | 5.8 | 0.293 | 0.361 | 0.480 | 0.840 |
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| All Games | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.316 | 125 | 4277 | 1146 | 217 | 37 | 144 | 0.437 | 542 | 301 | 982 | 73 | 790 | 105 | 77 | 124 | 75 | | Road Games | 3.5 | 0.235 | 0.281 | 62 | 2092 | 491 | 98 | 9 | 67 | 0.386 | 210 | 134 | 543 | 31 | 362 | 48 | 38 | 52 | 34 | | Lefty Starters | 3.7 | 0.257 | 0.298 | 26 | 874 | 225 | 34 | 4 | 25 | 0.391 | 94 | 50 | 229 | 17 | 154 | 23 | 16 | 22 | 17 |
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| All Games | 4.81 | 1.501 | 427 | 246 | 228 | 454 | 44 | 187 | 365 | 20-25 | 27 | 17 | 61.4% | | Road Games | 4.26 | 1.440 | 190.3 | 101 | 90 | 182 | 18 | 92 | 178 | 8-10 | 17 | 7 | 70.8% |
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| All Games | 77-49 | +19 | 55-59 | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.315 | 0.399 | 0.714 | 3.6 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.359 | 0.665 | | Home Games | 44-20 | +16.7 | 30-30 | 4.3 | 0.265 | 0.319 | 0.407 | 0.726 | 3.3 | 0.240 | 0.295 | 0.345 | 0.640 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 61-38 | +16.8 | 42-46 | 4.2 | 0.256 | 0.309 | 0.396 | 0.705 | 3.5 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.358 | 0.665 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.6 | 2-4 | 4.0 | 0.260 | 0.336 | 0.414 | 0.750 | 2.9 | 0.243 | 0.284 | 0.348 | 0.632 | | Grass Games | 77-49 | +19 | 55-59 | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.315 | 0.399 | 0.714 | 3.6 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.359 | 0.665 | | Night Games | 53-37 | +7.2 | 41-41 | 4.2 | 0.261 | 0.316 | 0.395 | 0.711 | 3.8 | 0.255 | 0.311 | 0.370 | 0.681 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.315 | 126 | 4380 | 1145 | 227 | 24 | 109 | 0.399 | 508 | 344 | 1020 | 77 | 908 | 112 | 92 | 146 | 114 | | Home Games | 4.3 | 0.265 | 0.319 | 64 | 2158 | 572 | 103 | 13 | 59 | 0.407 | 263 | 171 | 472 | 39 | 442 | 59 | 39 | 76 | 51 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.256 | 0.309 | 99 | 3437 | 879 | 182 | 18 | 88 | 0.396 | 390 | 266 | 801 | 59 | 696 | 85 | 71 | 121 | 82 |
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| All Games | 2.54 | 1.181 | 396.3 | 128 | 112 | 347 | 31 | 121 | 346 | 25-13 | 44 | 12 | 78.6% | | Home Games | 2.38 | 1.070 | 208.3 | 60 | 55 | 167 | 17 | 56 | 178 | 19-4 | 24 | 7 | 77.4% |
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| 8/14/2015 | FLANDE(L) | SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 5-9 | L | +125 | 10 ov | O | 11 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 2 | | 8/15/2015 | GRAY(R) | SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 5-7 | L | -115 | 10.5 ov | O | 10 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 2 | | 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) | | | 8/29/2015 | RUSIN(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | HAPP(L) | | | 8/30/2015 | DE LA ROSA(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 8/31/2015 | BETTIS(R) | ARIZONA | CORBIN(L) | | | 9/1/2015 | | ARIZONA | | | | 9/1/2015 | | ARIZONA | | | | 9/2/2015 | GRAY(R) | ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | | | 9/3/2015 | RUSIN(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | | | 9/4/2015 | | SAN FRANCISCO | | |
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| 8/14/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ NY METS | COLON(R) | 3-2 | W | 100 | 8 un | U | 9 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 8/15/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | 5-3 | W | 100 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 1 | | 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) | | | 8/29/2015 | HAPP(L) | COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | | | 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 | | @ 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 BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Editor
Colorado (51-74) at Pittsburgh (76-49), 7:05 p.m. EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates faced a journeyman starter and a rookie to end their previous series against one of the NL's worst clubs, and that's exactly what they'll see in the first two games against another bottom feeder.
Neither can look much worse than he did in his last outing for the Colorado Rockies.
First up hoping to rebound is top prospect Jon Gray, who looked good in his only other road start but could find success a bit harder to come by against Francisco Liriano and the Pirates on Friday night.
Pittsburgh (77-49) jumped all over Miami veteran Chris Narveson in his first start in three years in Wednesday's 7-2 victory, then used Pedro Alvarez's fourth-inning homer off rookie Justin Nicolino to take three of four with Thursday's 2-1 win.
"He has as much raw power as anybody in the game, except for maybe (Giancarlo Stanton)," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Alvarez, who has six homers and a 1.150 OPS since Aug. 11.
The Pirates should be salivating at the prospect of facing Gray (0-0, 5.94 ERA) and Chris Rusin after that duo managed to surrender 17 runs and 20 hits while lasting a combined 3 2-3 innings a week ago at home against the New York Mets. The rookie gave up seven of those runs, recording only five outs in last Friday's 14-9 loss.
"(His location) wasn't all that bad and our park was playing crazy, like it used to in the old days," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "I'm not too worried about Jonny Gray. He's handled himself very well so far. He's a lot more confident than I saw him in spring training. He's a lot more convicted to what he does. He's in a good place."
He was great in his first major league start away from Denver. The only hit Gray allowed in six innings against the Mets on Aug. 10 was a solo home run.
Considering the way the Pirates have hit when Liriano (9-6, 3.23) has been on the mound for the past two months, Gray might be waiting another five days to pick up his first victory. Pittsburgh has won Liriano's last 10 starts, giving him an average of 7.13 runs of support.
Should the Pirates win this one, it will mark the seventh time in franchise history they've won 11 straight games behind an individual starter. They won 12 consecutive A.J. Burnett starts in 2012, their longest run since a franchise-record 14 straight Dock Ellis outings in 1971.
"Every five days I try to do the best I can and win some ballgames," Liriano said after allowing two unearned runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 5-2 win over San Francisco on Sunday. "I just try to put some zeroes on the board."
The left-hander hasn't been doing much of that lately, posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in his last five starts, but he did hold the Rockies (51-74) to just an unearned run over five while striking out eight at PNC on July 18, 2014.
Nolan Arenado is 3 for 6 against Liriano but Carlos Gonzalez is 0 for 7 with five strikeouts. Gonzalez is hitting .194 against lefties this season while Arenado is batting .184 on the road since July 1.
Colorado has lost five straight in Pittsburgh, but it'll head into this series with a chance to do something it hasn't accomplished in the second half. The Rockies won their final two games in Atlanta this week, giving them a chance for their first three-game winning streak since sweeping the Braves in four right before the All-Star break.
Colorado is 6-1 against Atlanta since July 9 and 10-24 against everyone else.
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| | Last Updated: 4/23/2024 8:45:42 PM EST. |
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