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PITTSBURGH ( BURNETT )
SAN DIEGO ( KENNEDY ) |
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| 901 | PITTSBURGH | -115 | Ov 6.5,-110 | -125 | Ov 6.5,-120 | | 902 | SAN DIEGO | +105 | Un 6.5,-110 | +115 | Un 6.5,+100 |
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| All Games | 24-22 | -1.7 | 18-23 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.300 | 0.384 | 0.684 | 3.3 | 0.245 | 0.305 | 0.351 | 0.656 | | Road Games | 9-13 | -4.5 | 6-13 | 3.7 | 0.241 | 0.292 | 0.362 | 0.654 | 3.2 | 0.242 | 0.314 | 0.332 | 0.646 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 21-18 | +0.3 | 16-19 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.296 | 0.379 | 0.675 | 3.2 | 0.242 | 0.301 | 0.349 | 0.650 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +4.6 | 2-5 | 5.4 | 0.290 | 0.337 | 0.465 | 0.802 | 1.9 | 0.220 | 0.260 | 0.310 | 0.570 | | Grass Games | 24-22 | -1.7 | 18-23 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.300 | 0.384 | 0.684 | 3.3 | 0.245 | 0.305 | 0.351 | 0.656 | | Night Games | 14-15 | -4.6 | 12-15 | 3.7 | 0.232 | 0.281 | 0.349 | 0.629 | 3.5 | 0.258 | 0.311 | 0.365 | 0.675 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.300 | 46 | 1574 | 394 | 89 | 2 | 39 | 0.384 | 183 | 112 | 358 | 30 | 307 | 37 | 28 | 54 | 44 | | Road Games | 3.7 | 0.241 | 0.292 | 22 | 787 | 190 | 45 | 1 | 16 | 0.362 | 80 | 56 | 204 | 15 | 162 | 16 | 19 | 26 | 28 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.296 | 39 | 1341 | 331 | 79 | 1 | 32 | 0.379 | 152 | 94 | 302 | 26 | 259 | 32 | 20 | 49 | 34 |
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| All Games | 2.80 | 1.221 | 141.7 | 48 | 44 | 128 | 10 | 45 | 128 | 4-10 | 13 | 4 | 76.5% | | Road Games | 2.51 | 1.412 | 68 | 21 | 19 | 65 | 4 | 31 | 66 | 1-7 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% |
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| All Games | 23-25 | -1.8 | 28-20 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.299 | 0.381 | 0.679 | 4.5 | 0.255 | 0.315 | 0.441 | 0.756 | | Home Games | 11-12 | -3.1 | 13-10 | 4.1 | 0.239 | 0.287 | 0.383 | 0.670 | 4.8 | 0.248 | 0.311 | 0.437 | 0.748 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 18-20 | -1.7 | 21-17 | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.292 | 0.381 | 0.673 | 4.5 | 0.258 | 0.318 | 0.442 | 0.760 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | +0.2 | 2-5 | 3.4 | 0.242 | 0.281 | 0.321 | 0.601 | 2.6 | 0.236 | 0.268 | 0.358 | 0.626 | | Grass Games | 23-25 | -1.8 | 28-20 | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.299 | 0.381 | 0.679 | 4.5 | 0.255 | 0.315 | 0.441 | 0.756 | | Night Games | 16-18 | -1.8 | 18-16 | 4.1 | 0.245 | 0.297 | 0.366 | 0.663 | 4.6 | 0.267 | 0.324 | 0.459 | 0.783 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.247 | 0.299 | 48 | 1655 | 409 | 81 | 10 | 40 | 0.381 | 200 | 122 | 391 | 33 | 309 | 36 | 29 | 43 | 43 | | Home Games | 4.1 | 0.239 | 0.287 | 23 | 760 | 182 | 33 | 5 | 22 | 0.383 | 92 | 51 | 183 | 13 | 130 | 20 | 13 | 26 | 18 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.292 | 38 | 1308 | 317 | 59 | 9 | 35 | 0.381 | 149 | 91 | 304 | 30 | 237 | 27 | 21 | 38 | 33 |
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| All Games | 4.27 | 1.284 | 143.3 | 72 | 68 | 130 | 21 | 54 | 127 | 7-7 | 13 | 4 | 76.5% | | Home Games | 4.80 | 1.280 | 75 | 43 | 40 | 66 | 11 | 30 | 59 | 3-2 | 7 | 0 | 100% |
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| 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) | 4-2 | W | -125 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MIAMI | URENA(R) | 5-1 | W | -135 | 8 ev | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | COLE(R) | MIAMI | HAND(L) | 5-2 | W | -195 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 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 | COLE(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | | @ SAN FRANCISCO | | |
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| 5/14/2015 | ROSS(R) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 8-3 | W | -110 | 6.5 ov | O | 13 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 0-10 | L | +120 | 7 un | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | | 5/16/2015 | CASHNER(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 1-4 | L | +125 | 6.5 un | U | 5 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 5/17/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 5-10 | L | +115 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-3 | W | -120 | 6.5 ov | O | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 3 | | 5/20/2015 | ROSS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 2-3 | L | -135 | 7 un | U | 6 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 0-3 | L | +105 | 7 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | CASHNER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | 1-2 | L | 182 | 6.5 un | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | @ LA DODGERS | BOLSINGER(R) | 0-2 | L | 140 | 7 un | U | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | @ LA DODGERS | FRIAS(R) | 11-3 | W | 110 | 7 un | O | 20 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | ROSS(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 3-4 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | @ LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 4-0 | W | 160 | 8 ov | U | 9 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | | 5/27/2015 | CASHNER(R) | @ LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 5-4 | W | 150 | 7 un | O | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | | 5/28/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | | | 5/29/2015 | SHIELDS(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 5/30/2015 | ROSS(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | DESPAIGNE(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | | | 6/1/2015 | CASHNER(R) | NY METS | DEGROM(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | KENNEDY(R) | NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | | NY METS | | |
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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. | | SAN DIEGO: San Diego Padres manager Bud Black turned the corner to meet the press on the first day of spring training and was taken aback at the throng of reporters waiting.
''What are we, the Yankees?'' Black asked.
No, but they're no longer the anonymous Padres, the light-hitting, star-less team planted near the bottom of the NL West.
Thanks to first-year general manager A.J. Preller's wild offseason, the Padres have been remade. There's suddenly star power. And expectations, too.
''The organization, from top on down, there's a different vibe,'' Black said.
A new ace in James Shields joins an already strong rotation. Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers make for a brand new power-hitting outfield. Derek Norris is now catching. Newcomers Yangervis Solarte and Will Middlebrooks have had great springs as they compete at third base.
''I'm impressed,'' Kemp said. ''We've got a lot of great players in this clubhouse. We have a really good chance of winning some games.''
It's been a long time since people have been saying that about the Padres. They were last in the postseason in 2006. They haven't had a winning season since 2010 and last year finished 18 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
A lost season included a shake-up at the top. Preller, a former assistant GM with Texas, replaced the fired Josh Byrnes in August. Preller was then the clear star of baseball's hot stove season.
Kemp, who acknowledged he was shocked the Dodgers traded him, thinks the Padres now have the best outfield in the game.
Shields, who helped get Kansas City to the World Series last season, was the last piece. He signed in February.
''Shields wanted to be here. Kemp, Upton, Norris, those guys are happy to be here,'' Black said. ''They're happy to be in San Diego. They're happy to be a Padre. That's a good thing.''
Now it will be up to Black, lauded for squeezing as much as he can out of bad rosters, to make them winners. The Padres expect to contend for at least a wild card spot.
''I've been in San Diego for 40 years. That energy is back,'' Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler said. ''People are talking baseball and it's fun to be a Padre right now.''
ROTATION WORKHORSES: Adding Shields gives the Padres baseball's most durable pitcher on a staff already known for eating innings. The right-hander has tossed 1,785 2/3 innings since 2007. No pitcher has thrown more. Tyson Ross (195 2/3) and Ian Kennedy (201) were workhorses in 2014. Right-hander Andrew Cashner was the exception, but last year's opening-day starter has looked dominant as he returns from arm issues. Brandon Morrow and Odrisamer Despaigne are contending for the fifth spot. And Josh Johnson, coming back from elbow surgery, could be ready by June. ''The one thing we do have is pitching depth,'' Shields said. ''And you can never have too much.'' The one issue: no left-handers.
CAN THEY FIELD?: The new outfield packs power, but can they cover spacious Petco Park? Kemp's arthritic hips were made public during trade discussions and he no longer has the speed for center. Myers has only played there in the minors. ''They read the noise that we're not going to play defense,'' Black said. ''Players have a lot of pride.'' Veteran Wil Nieves, a non-roster invite, is the likely backup catcher with Tim Federowicz sidelined following knee surgery.
WHO PLAYS THIRD?: Solarte, acquired last summer from the Yankees, has impressed at the plate and can also play second and first. Middlebrooks, coming off a poor, injury-plagued 2014 in Boston, has hit well and looked smooth in the field. ''I'm not too worried about it. I know I'm a good player,'' Middlebrooks said. ''He's a good player as well. We're both going to be on the field at some point.''
WHAT HAPPENS TO QUENTIN?: Preller's next task is to figure out what to do with all his spare outfielders. That includes Carlos Quentin, the oft-injured two-time All-Star. ''Everyone knows there's a DH in the American League,'' said Quentin, who is open to a trade. Will Venable and Cameron Maybin also face uncertain futures.
PRESSURE ON BLACK: Black found a way to win 77 games last year with a roster that scored 535 runs, 38 fewer than any other team. But Preller declined to extend his contract in the offseason. ''We're both in the last year before we're free agents,'' Kennedy said, grinning. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-SAN DIEGO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Padres Preview* ========================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (24-22) at San Diego (23-25), 10:10 p.m. EDT
Clint Hurdle seems to be considerably happier now that the Pittsburgh Pirates are winning consistently, and giving the ball to A.J. Burnett isn't likely to alter his mood.
Burnett looks to continue his masterful final season and keep the Pirates rolling in the opener of their 10-game road trip Thursday night against the San Diego Padres.
Pittsburgh (24-22) was four games under .500 following a 4-3, 13-inning loss to Minnesota on May 20, and Hurdle called the team the "definition of insanity," according to MLB's official website.
"If you want more, you've got to do more," Hurdle said.
The Pirates are outscoring opponents 35-9 during a six-game winning streak, their longest since taking nine straight from June 20-30, 2013.
"We're headed in the right direction," Hurdle said after Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday. "You've got to take ownership of your season. You've got to take ownership of your club. These guys know we have talent. For way too long, we were a good team playing mediocre baseball. So you're not a good team, really. You've got to connect the dots. You've got to put the parts of the game in play."
Burnett (4-1, 1.37 ERA) owns the lowest qualifying ERA in the majors, and the right-hander has a 1.29 mark while winning four consecutive starts for the first time since a career-best eight straight from May 19-June 28, 2012, during his first stint with Pittsburgh.
"He's like a kid in the backyard out there that's having some fun that is being aggressive and very, very purposeful on the mound," Hurdle said. "He's pitching as well as I've ever seen him pitch. He's doing more."
The 38-year-old right-hander, who plans to retire at season's end, was superb Saturday, allowing one run with a season-high 10 strikeouts while outpitching Matt Harvey in an 8-2 win over the New York Mets.
"I just look at leaving it all out on the field, knowing it's my last go around," Burnett said. "It's fun to pitch for (my teammates), to be around them. They bring so much out of me."
Burnett is 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in six starts over the last three seasons against the Padres (23-25).
San Diego has won three of four games, matching its win total from the previous 12. They Padres have yet to win more than three straight, which they can do for a fifth time after taking their final two on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.
Ian Kennedy (2-4, 6.11) takes the mound looking to avoid matching a career-high five straight losing starts from May 3-25, 2012, with Arizona. He has a 7.47 ERA over his last three outings but was solid Saturday at Dodger Stadium, holding Los Angeles to two runs with six strikeouts in six innings of a 2-0 loss.
The right-hander was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA last season against the Pirates, though Josh Harrison went 4 for 5 with three extra-base hits and Gregory Polanco was 3 for 3.
Kennedy will get his first look at rookie Jung Ho Kang, who is hitting .389 (14 for 36) in his past nine games after connecting for a two-run single Wednesday.
San Diego's Justin Upton is 7 for 16 with a homer and seven RBIs over the last four games, and he's 6 for 14 with two homers and two doubles versus Burnett.
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| | Last Updated: 5/7/2024 4:30:41 AM EST. |
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