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PITTSBURGH ( LOCKE )
CINCINNATI ( LORENZEN ) |
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| 905 | PITTSBURGH | -120 | Ov 8.5,-110 | -130 | Ov 9,+105 | | 906 | CINCINNATI | +110 | Un 8.5,-110 | +120 | Un 9,-125 |
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| All Games | 59-42 | +8.9 | 45-47 | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.310 | 0.388 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.360 | 0.666 | | Road Games | 24-25 | -2.5 | 21-22 | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 0.386 | 0.695 | 4.2 | 0.266 | 0.326 | 0.381 | 0.706 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 49-33 | +10.6 | 37-37 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.307 | 0.387 | 0.694 | 3.6 | 0.250 | 0.305 | 0.361 | 0.666 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.2 | 6-1 | 6.1 | 0.293 | 0.331 | 0.492 | 0.823 | 6.3 | 0.304 | 0.365 | 0.482 | 0.847 | | Grass Games | 59-42 | +8.9 | 45-47 | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.310 | 0.388 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.360 | 0.666 | | Night Games | 39-30 | +1.6 | 33-31 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.307 | 0.382 | 0.690 | 3.9 | 0.255 | 0.311 | 0.371 | 0.682 | | Division | 17-25 | -12.8 | 21-17 | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.304 | 0.371 | 0.676 | 4.4 | 0.264 | 0.327 | 0.388 | 0.715 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.310 | 101 | 3500 | 905 | 187 | 13 | 80 | 0.388 | 394 | 261 | 819 | 67 | 723 | 83 | 76 | 118 | 90 | | Road Games | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 49 | 1758 | 456 | 98 | 5 | 38 | 0.386 | 191 | 127 | 440 | 36 | 368 | 39 | 47 | 59 | 51 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.307 | 82 | 2844 | 725 | 155 | 10 | 67 | 0.387 | 317 | 212 | 663 | 50 | 576 | 69 | 60 | 104 | 70 |
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| All Games | 2.88 | 1.222 | 306 | 111 | 98 | 280 | 29 | 94 | 264 | 16-13 | 34 | 9 | 79.1% | | Road Games | 3.10 | 1.428 | 145 | 61 | 50 | 150 | 13 | 57 | 133 | 3-9 | 14 | 5 | 73.7% |
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| All Games | 46-54 | -8.4 | 50-45 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.314 | 0.405 | 0.719 | 4.4 | 0.249 | 0.316 | 0.399 | 0.716 | | Home Games | 26-22 | +1.8 | 28-17 | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.333 | 0.440 | 0.773 | 4.6 | 0.255 | 0.323 | 0.405 | 0.728 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 12-13 | -0.7 | 14-10 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.315 | 0.420 | 0.735 | 4.7 | 0.241 | 0.313 | 0.395 | 0.708 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +2.2 | 2-4 | 5.4 | 0.284 | 0.346 | 0.440 | 0.786 | 4.9 | 0.252 | 0.304 | 0.452 | 0.756 | | Grass Games | 46-54 | -8.4 | 50-45 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.314 | 0.405 | 0.719 | 4.4 | 0.249 | 0.316 | 0.399 | 0.716 | | Night Games | 35-33 | +4.2 | 34-31 | 4.1 | 0.254 | 0.315 | 0.406 | 0.721 | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.308 | 0.387 | 0.695 | | Division | 20-22 | +1.4 | 22-18 | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.309 | 0.396 | 0.704 | 4.3 | 0.245 | 0.312 | 0.397 | 0.709 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.314 | 100 | 3446 | 872 | 152 | 17 | 112 | 0.405 | 387 | 308 | 719 | 96 | 714 | 83 | 51 | 78 | 64 | | Home Games | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.333 | 48 | 1649 | 440 | 76 | 6 | 66 | 0.440 | 217 | 163 | 334 | 45 | 352 | 36 | 15 | 35 | 37 | | Lefty Starters | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.315 | 25 | 867 | 221 | 37 | 8 | 30 | 0.420 | 97 | 76 | 184 | 25 | 164 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
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| All Games | 4.29 | 1.370 | 308.7 | 160 | 147 | 288 | 28 | 135 | 277 | 15-20 | 22 | 12 | 64.7% | | Home Games | 4.00 | 1.310 | 168.7 | 76 | 75 | 153 | 15 | 68 | 172 | 12-8 | 11 | 7 | 61.1% |
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| 7/17/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 1-4 | L | 110 | 8.5 ov | U | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 2 | | 7/18/2015 | WORLEY(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 5-8 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 8 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 2 | | 7/19/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | 1-6 | L | 125 | 8 un | U | 6 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 10-7 | W | 125 | 7 ev | O | 17 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 1 | | 7/21/2015 | COLE(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 1-3 | L | -115 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 1-5 | L | 115 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 7/23/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 7-3 | W | -185 | 7 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | LOCKE(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 7-5 | W | +120 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | BURNETT(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 3-9 | L | -145 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | COLE(R) | WASHINGTON | ROSS(R) | 3-1 | W | -160 | 7 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 7/28/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 8-7 | W | -105 | 9.5 un | O | 11 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 1 | | 7/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ MINNESOTA | SANTANA(R) | 10-4 | W | -130 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | | 7/30/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ CINCINNATI | HOLMBERG(L) | 5-15 | L | -150 | 9 un | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 0 | | 7/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | | | 8/1/2015 | COLE(R) | @ CINCINNATI | IGLESIAS(R) | | | 8/2/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 8/4/2015 | BURNETT(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | LOCKE(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | | LA DODGERS | | |
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| 7/17/2015 | LEAKE(R) | CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 6-1 | W | -105 | 8.5 ov | U | 10 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 7/18/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 4-9 | L | +145 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 7/19/2015 | CUETO(R) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 3-5 | L | -110 | 7 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | RICHARD(L) | 5-4 | W | -110 | 9.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-5 | L | +115 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | LEAKE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 9-1 | W | +105 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | CINGRANI(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | BEELER(R) | 5-6 | L | -120 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 | | 7/24/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | 5-6 | L | 105 | 11 un | P | 10 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 5-2 | W | -130 | 10 un | U | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 7/26/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 7-17 | L | -115 | 11.5 un | O | 14 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 | | 7/27/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | 1-4 | L | 150 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 7/28/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | 4-0 | W | 135 | 7 ev | U | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 7/29/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 1-0 | W | 155 | 7.5 un | U | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 7/30/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 15-5 | W | +140 | 9 un | O | 19 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 7/31/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | | | 8/1/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 8/2/2015 | LEAKE(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 8/6/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | | @ ARIZONA | | |
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| |  | 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. | | 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.''
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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. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Reds Preview* ======================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (59-41) at Cincinnati (45-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to have difficulty with the Cincinnati Reds but might face a different-looking team Friday night.
The Reds could make at least one deal ahead of the trade deadline and before their attempt at a ninth win in 11 games against the Pirates, who made a notable move of their own Thursday.
After winning five of six, Pittsburgh (59-42) was dominated in a 15-5 loss Thursday. It was the sixth loss in a row at Cincinnati for the Pirates, who have surrendered an average of 5.6 runs while going 2-8 in the season series.
Brandon Phillips became the first major leaguer with four hits, two homers, seven RBIs (a career high) and two stolen bases in a game since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920.
Pittsburgh's bullpen gave up seven runs and has a 5.97 ERA over the past 12 games but added a new piece Thursday, acquiring closer Joakim Soria from Detroit. He'll move into a setup role while Mark Melancon remains the closer.
Two Reds who have been in trade rumors, Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd, each had three RBIs on Thursday. Starting pitcher Mike Leake was shipped to San Francisco for two prospects late Thursday, and closer Aroldis Chapman also could be traded before Friday afternoon's deadline.
"I don't think there (are) probably a lot of guys that are comfortable and are able to sit in front of their locker and not think about the trade deadline. When we get past it, I think we'll be in a better place," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "Of course we've won three in a row with the trade deadline hanging over our head. I've been really impressed with how the guys have handled it."
Cincinnati (46-54) will pursue a season high-tying fourth consecutive victory and try to extend its longest home win streak over the Pirates since a seven-game run from 1996-97.
The Reds will likely need a much improved performance from Michael Lorenzen (3-5, 4.58 ERA) than in a 17-7 loss in Colorado on Sunday. The right-hander was charged with a career-worst eight runs in 2 1-3 innings in his third consecutive defeat.
Lorenzen's first major league win came in his only start against the Pirates, yielding one run and three hits in six innings of a 7-1 victory May 5.
Jeff Locke (5-6, 4.15) is 0-2 with a 5.18 ERA in his last five starts versus the Reds, and he's allowed eight runs and 16 hits in 11 innings against them this year.
The left-hander has one victory in his last six outings. Locke had a 2.15 ERA in the first five games in that stretch, then gave up four runs in the fourth of his five innings last Friday against Washington. He did not get a decision in a 7-5 victory.
Joey Votto is 6 for 17 with two doubles against Locke and is batting .568 with a 1.570 OPS in his last 13 games after going 3 for 4 on Thursday. Votto is 7 for 18 in his last four games against Pittsburgh.
Billy Hamilton, batting .333 in his last 10 games, is 6 for 13 lifetime versus Locke, and Todd Frazier is 9 for 20 with two homers. Frazier, 3 for 27 in his last seven games, is expected to return after getting the night off Thursday.
Pittsburgh's Aramis Ramirez has a home run and a double in four at-bats against Lorenzen. Starling Marte, batting .444 in a nine-game hit streak, has homered in two at-bats versus the right-hander.
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| | Last Updated: 4/30/2024 8:35:32 AM EST. |
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