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PITTSBURGH ( MORTON )
CHICAGO CUBS ( JACKSON ) |
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| 903 | PITTSBURGH | -125 | Ov 8.5,-125 | -115 | Ov 9,-105 | | 904 | CHICAGO CUBS | +115 | Un 8.5,+105 | +105 | Un 9,-115 |
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| All Games | 53-32 | +26.9 | 39-44 | 4.0 | 0.244 | 0.302 | 3.4 | 0.227 | 0.297 | | Road Games | 24-17 | +14.8 | 21-19 | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.298 | 3.7 | 0.231 | 0.308 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 44-23 | +27.8 | 28-37 | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.302 | 3.3 | 0.221 | 0.290 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.2 | 4-3 | 4.4 | 0.267 | 0.336 | 3.0 | 0.237 | 0.280 | | Grass Games | 53-32 | +26.9 | 39-44 | 4.0 | 0.244 | 0.302 | 3.4 | 0.227 | 0.297 | | Day Games | 21-12 | +13.9 | 19-13 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.307 | 3.6 | 0.214 | 0.290 | | Division | 25-13 | +14.6 | 15-21 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.304 | 3.3 | 0.215 | 0.279 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.244 | 0.302 | 85 | 2878 | 702 | 245 | 84 | 0.03 | 319 | 238 | 718 | 59 | 586 | 63 | 61 | 70 | 54 | | Road Games | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.298 | 41 | 1418 | 341 | 128 | 48 | 0.03 | 161 | 117 | 378 | 27 | 281 | 27 | 27 | 34 | 28 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.243 | 0.302 | 67 | 2246 | 545 | 189 | 63 | 0.03 | 248 | 190 | 566 | 49 | 457 | 49 | 49 | 58 | 43 |
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| All Games | 2.92 | 1.131 | 305 | 99 | 99 | 240 | 27 | 105 | 274 | 19-10 | 33 | 9 | 78.6% | | Road Games | 3.62 | 1.242 | 139.3 | 56 | 56 | 120 | 20 | 53 | 122 | 9-6 | 15 | 5 | 75% |
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| All Games | 36-48 | -7.4 | 40-40 | 4.1 | 0.241 | 0.293 | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.307 | | Home Games | 17-23 | -7.1 | 23-16 | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.315 | 4.7 | 0.261 | 0.322 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 25-34 | -5.8 | 31-26 | 4.3 | 0.245 | 0.295 | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.306 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.1 | 5-2 | 4.0 | 0.231 | 0.269 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.333 | | Grass Games | 36-48 | -7.4 | 40-40 | 4.1 | 0.241 | 0.293 | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.307 | | Day Games | 19-25 | -4 | 19-22 | 4.2 | 0.239 | 0.297 | 3.9 | 0.235 | 0.302 | | Division | 11-26 | -12 | 18-18 | 2.9 | 0.211 | 0.269 | 4.4 | 0.246 | 0.315 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.241 | 0.293 | 84 | 2869 | 692 | 274 | 89 | 0.03 | 325 | 211 | 609 | 44 | 535 | 62 | 59 | 69 | 61 | | Home Games | 4.7 | 0.256 | 0.315 | 40 | 1338 | 343 | 148 | 53 | 0.04 | 179 | 114 | 284 | 20 | 252 | 36 | 33 | 41 | 28 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.245 | 0.295 | 59 | 2046 | 502 | 202 | 62 | 0.03 | 240 | 144 | 412 | 25 | 376 | 43 | 41 | 48 | 43 |
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| All Games | 4.24 | 1.374 | 227 | 116 | 107 | 221 | 30 | 91 | 189 | 10-14 | 19 | 16 | 54.3% | | Home Games | 4.67 | 1.442 | 111.7 | 63 | 58 | 115 | 11 | 46 | 105 | 4-6 | 5 | 6 | 45.5% |
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| 6/22/2013 | LIRIANO(L) | @ LA ANGELS | WILLIAMS(R) | 6-1 | W | 120 | 7.5 ov | U | 10 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 1 | | 6/23/2013 | MORTON(R) | @ LA ANGELS | BLANTON(R) | 10-9 | W | 145 | 9 un | O | 13 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2 | | 6/25/2013 | LOCKE(L) | @ SEATTLE | SAUNDERS(L) | 9-4 | W | -120 | 7 ov | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 6/26/2013 | GOMEZ(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 4-2 | W | 160 | 6.5 ov | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 6/28/2013 | COLE(R) | MILWAUKEE | HELLWEG(R) | 10-3 | W | -195 | 8 ov | O | 12 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 2 | | 6/29/2013 | LIRIANO(L) | MILWAUKEE | HAND(R) | 2-1 | W | -205 | 7.5 ov | U | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 6/30/2013 | MORTON(R) | MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 2-1 | W | -140 | 8 un | U | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 7/2/2013 | CUMPTON(R) | PHILADELPHIA | PETTIBONE(R) | 1-3 | L | -150 | 8.5 ev | U | 6 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 7/3/2013 | LOCKE(L) | PHILADELPHIA | LANNAN(L) | 6-5 | W | -190 | 8 un | O | 13 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 7/4/2013 | COLE(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 4-6 | L | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 7/5/2013 | LIRIANO(L) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 6-2 | W | -135 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 7/6/2013 | MORTON(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | JACKSON(R) | | | 7/7/2013 | BURNETT(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | VILLANUEVA(R) | | | 7/8/2013 | LOCKE(L) | OAKLAND | COLON(R) | | | 7/9/2013 | COLE(R) | OAKLAND | STRAILY(R) | | | 7/10/2013 | LIRIANO(L) | OAKLAND | MILONE(L) | | | 7/12/2013 | MORTON(R) | NY METS | MARCUM(R) | | | 7/13/2013 | | NY METS | | |
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| 6/22/2013 | WOOD(L) | HOUSTON | NORRIS(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 9.5 un | U | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 6/23/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | HOUSTON | LYLES(R) | 14-6 | W | -165 | 9 ev | O | 16 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 2 | | 6/25/2013 | JACKSON(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 3-9 | L | 130 | 8 ov | O | 8 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | | 6/26/2013 | FELDMAN(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GALLARDO(R) | 5-4 | W | 125 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2 | | 6/27/2013 | GARZA(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 7-2 | W | 100 | 9 un | P | 9 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 2 | | 6/28/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ SEATTLE | IWAKUMA(R) | 4-5 | L | 140 | 7 un | O | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 1 | | 6/29/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ SEATTLE | HARANG(R) | 5-3 | W | -110 | 7 ov | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 6/30/2013 | JACKSON(R) | @ SEATTLE | BONDERMAN(R) | 7-6 | W | 105 | 8 ov | O | 9 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 1 | | 7/2/2013 | RUSIN(L) | @ OAKLAND | GRIFFIN(R) | 7-8 | L | 195 | 8 ev | O | 13 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0 | | 7/3/2013 | GARZA(R) | @ OAKLAND | COLON(R) | 3-1 | W | 180 | 7.5 un | U | 12 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | | 7/4/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ OAKLAND | STRAILY(R) | 0-1 | L | 150 | 8 ov | U | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | | 7/5/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 2-6 | L | +125 | 7.5 un | O | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 0 | | 7/6/2013 | JACKSON(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 7/7/2013 | VILLANUEVA(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | | | 7/8/2013 | GARZA(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SANTIAGO(L) | | | 7/9/2013 | WOOD(L) | LA ANGELS | BLANTON(R) | | | 7/10/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | | | 7/11/2013 | JACKSON(R) | ST LOUIS | WESTBROOK(R) | | | 7/12/2013 | VILLANUEVA(R) | ST LOUIS | KELLY(R) | | | 7/13/2013 | | ST LOUIS | | |
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| |  | PITTSBURGH: HITTING: The Pirates' two-month casual flirtation with competitiveness was cute while it lasted, before this team fizzled to a 72-win season. This team is still years away. But don't blame OF ANDREW McCUTCHEN, who might be the best all-around player in the division. Of all the ballyhooed outfielders from the 2005 draft, he's the one GMs would most want to build around. OF JOSE TABATA, not so much. He's serviceable and has plus speed, but the six-year extension the Pirates gave him was absurd. 2B NEIL WALKER has settled into a respectable place short of stardom. 3B PEDRO ALVAREZ has a lot of uphill climbing to do if he wants to wake up old expectations. He'll compete with 3B CASEY MCGEHEE for a starting role, but it's most likely that Alvarez moves to first base to back up 1B GARRETT JONES. OFs NATE McLOUTH and ALEX PRESLEY are underwhelming choices for the starting left-field spot. SS CLINT BARMES and C ROD BARAJAS would like to thank the Pirates for wildly overpaying them.
STARTING PITCHING: JEFF KARSTENS looked pretty decent for much of last year. But that's what happens when you get to log 14 percent of your innings against the lowly Astros. Better teams exposed him for the replacement-level guy he is. Contrary to what a lot of bored, lazy sportswriters wanted you to believe last year, CHARLIE MORTON doesn't pitch like Roy Halladay. At all. JAMES McDONALD could still be special if he cut down his walk rate. ERIK BEDARD was a respectable signing. Even if his shoulder acts up, he cost only $4.5 million for a year. If he's healthy, he's still well above-average. KEVIN CORREIA may only be slightly more effective at striking out hitters than a batting tee, but the Pirates are grateful for the innings he eats. BRAD LINCOLN is the designated fill-in if any of the other starters get hurt (cough, Bedard). In the meantime, he's a swing man.
RELIEF PITCHING: Closer JOEL HANRAHAN has been outstanding since first donning a Pirates uniform in 2009, converting 40-of-44 saves with a 1.83 ERA last season. It makes sense for the rebuilding Pirates to move him, but they'll probably keep the hand they were dealt. There isn't another qualified ninth-inning pitcher in this bullpen though. EVAN MEEK was bit by the shoulder bug. His early season was an unqualified disaster, but he turned it around and regained his form once he came back in September. He should be fully healthy again, and a quiet source of a few saves. CHRIS RESOP is another primary set-up man, but he posted a 4.39 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 2011. DANIEL McCUTCHEN won't be so lucky with his ERA this year if he doesn't lower his walk rate. He's just not a guy to put much faith in. | | CHICAGO CUBS: HITTING: 'Under New Management' is the motto in Wrigleyville, where Epstein, Hoyer, Sveum and Co. aim to turn SS STARLIN CASTRO and a bunch of straw into gold. OF DAVID DeJESUS was an underrated first pick-up. But OFs ALFONSO SORIANO and MARLON BYRD are overpaid and over the hill. C GEOVANY SOTO has lost his mojo. New 3B IAN STEWART has a lousy career OPS of .737 away from Coors Field. 1B BRYAN LaHAIR is tagged as part of a 'youth movement,' but he's almost 30. The other youths'2B DARWIN BARNEY, IF JEFF BAKER, and IF BLAKE DEWITT 'are interchangeable guys with low ceilings. Fourth OF TONY CAMPANA is fast but one-dimensional. And minor-league reinforcements are scarce. OF BRETT JACKSON is solid, but blocked in the lineup. And former uber-prospect 3B JOSH VITTERS has done nothing to justify his third-overall draft status. This rebuilding process will take time. Meanwhile, somewhere in the Chicago suburbs, Jim Hendry quietly sobs into a pile of Cubs-themed stuffed animals.
STARTING PITCHING: RYAN DEMPSTER should bounce back from an unlucky year in which there was nearly a full-run difference between his ERA and his FIP. He's no ace in good times, but he's an underrated and dependable source of innings and strikeouts. MATT GARZA didn't disappoint in his debut season on the North Side, but he was an odd acquisition to begin with: the Cubs dealt top prospects from a thin system when all signs pointed to a belly-flop of a season. He's already trade bait again. JEFF SAMARDZIJA is moving to the rotation after a strong year in the bullpen (2.97 ERA, 87 K in 88 IP), but he needs to cut down on his walks (5.1 per 9 IP). What killed TRAVIS WOOD in 2011 was uncharacteristic wildness. His walk total spiked by over 50 percent from 2010. He's better than this, though it's hard to say how much. It could be that a 40-inning jump from 2010 to 2011 aided his freefall. Subpar newcomers PAUL MAHOLM and CHRIS VOLSTAD will also compete for rotation spots. The lefty Maholm is coming off his best season in Pittsburgh (3.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), but was awful after the All-Star break (0-5, 5.75 ERA, .355 Opp. BA). The 6-foot-8 Volstad was 5-13 with a 4.89 ERA for the Marlins last year, but still has time to figure things out at age 25.
RELIEF PITCHING: Because of his contract and the head-scratching faith in the 'closer mentality' that still pervades even the most enlightened front offices, CARLOS MARMOL will enter the 2012 campaign with a near-ironclad grip on ninth-inning duties for the Cubs. Trading away Sean Marshall, arguably Chicago's best reliever last season, is yet another vote of confidence for Marmol. His lack of command leads to more hittable pitches (along with tons of walks), though his ceiling for strikeouts and saves is sky-high. KERRY WOOD will be the main set-up man again after a triumphant return to Chicago last season (3.35 ERA, 57 K in 51 IP). |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CHICAGO CUBS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Cubs Preview* ======================
By JONAH ROSENBLUM STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (52-32) at Chicago (36-47), 4:05 p.m. EDT
One of the most taxed bullpens in baseball finally got a rest Friday.
Following Francisco Liriano's complete game, the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to win their 12th game in 14 tries as they face the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a major league-best 3.14 ERA, the Pirates (53-32) became the 22nd team in baseball to record a complete game with Liriano's four-hitter in a 6-2 victory. With Pittsburgh's starters averaging just over 5 1-3 innings per outing, the relievers have been left to pitch 305 innings, the second-highest total in baseball.
"These guys, the game has been over in the fifth inning when they have the lead," Cubs manager Dale Sveum told the team's official website. "Their bullpen has been that dominant. They've won every single game they've been leading. When you get those kind of pieces, it helps."
Sveum's compliment aside, Pittsburgh's bullpen finally displayed some weakness toward the tail end of its recent series against Philadelphia, as it posted a 6.43 ERA and a .345 batting average against over its last two games.
After watching Philadelphia snap its nine-game winning streak Tuesday, Pittsburgh has responded with two wins in three games, paced by an offense that has collected 35 hits.
Starling Marte has led the way, batting .373 during a 10-game hitting streak with nine of his 19 hits going for extra bases. He improved to 8 for 21 (.381) with five stolen bases in his last five games against the Cubs after going 3 for 6 with two steals Friday.
"I see a team that's fighting for every inch and earning every win," Saturday's scheduled starter Charlie Morton told the Pirates' official site. "I wouldn't classify it as luck. I wouldn't. Because that would be selling them short about what they've done so far."
Pittsburgh's bullpen may have needed the rest with Morton (1-1, 2.50 ERA) set to take the hill. The last time he pitched, a two hour and 20-minute rain delay forced him off the mound after two innings. While the right-hander could hardly be blamed for that abbreviated start, he has yet to make it through the sixth inning in four outings this season.
Since allowing a career-worst 10 runs to the Cubs (36-48) on Aug. 14, 2009, Morton is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts against them. This will be his first appearance versus Chicago since Sept. 4, 2011.
He'll be facing a struggling Cubs offense that has scored five runs in the past three games and has six hits in the past two. Alfonso Soriano went hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts Friday, and is 3 for his last 16. Anthony Rizzo is 2 for his last 20 and Darwin Barney is mired in a 3-for-25 skid.
This has been a dismal first season in Chicago for Edwin Jackson (4-10, 5.75), but he does have a chance to win consecutive starts. He allowed three runs over six-plus innings in a 7-6 victory at Seattle on Sunday after posting a 9.00 ERA in his previous two outings.
Jackson is 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA at Wrigley Field this year, but that lone win came against Pittsburgh in his last game there. He threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out eight en route to a 4-1 victory June 9.
The right-hander has won all four of his home starts against the Pirates while compiling a 2.49 ERA.
Jackson will want to be careful with Andrew McCutchen, who is 7 for 17 (.412) with two homers and two doubles in their matchups. The Pirates' star is batting .423 (11 for 26) during a seven-game hit streak overall.
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| | Last Updated: 5/7/2024 11:40:20 PM EST. |
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