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PITTSBURGH ( BURNETT )
SAN FRANCISCO ( HESTON ) |
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| 963 | PITTSBURGH | -105 | Ov 7,+100 | +100 | Ov 7,+100 | | 964 | SAN FRANCISCO | -105 | Un 7,-120 | -110 | Un 7,-120 |
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| All Games | 27-24 | -0.6 | 21-23 | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.301 | 0.384 | 0.685 | 3.5 | 0.244 | 0.304 | 0.347 | 0.650 | | Road Games | 12-15 | -3.5 | 9-13 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.295 | 0.367 | 0.661 | 3.4 | 0.240 | 0.310 | 0.327 | 0.637 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 24-20 | +1.3 | 19-19 | 4.1 | 0.248 | 0.297 | 0.380 | 0.677 | 3.4 | 0.241 | 0.300 | 0.344 | 0.644 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +3 | 3-2 | 4.7 | 0.272 | 0.317 | 0.407 | 0.724 | 3.7 | 0.230 | 0.285 | 0.315 | 0.599 | | Grass Games | 27-24 | -0.6 | 21-23 | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.301 | 0.384 | 0.685 | 3.5 | 0.244 | 0.304 | 0.347 | 0.650 | | Night Games | 17-16 | -2.6 | 14-15 | 3.9 | 0.235 | 0.285 | 0.355 | 0.640 | 3.6 | 0.251 | 0.305 | 0.354 | 0.658 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.301 | 51 | 1750 | 439 | 100 | 2 | 43 | 0.384 | 204 | 125 | 399 | 36 | 346 | 38 | 35 | 61 | 46 | | Road Games | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.295 | 27 | 963 | 235 | 56 | 1 | 20 | 0.367 | 101 | 69 | 245 | 21 | 201 | 17 | 26 | 33 | 30 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.248 | 0.297 | 44 | 1517 | 376 | 90 | 1 | 36 | 0.380 | 173 | 107 | 343 | 32 | 298 | 33 | 27 | 56 | 36 |
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| All Games | 2.72 | 1.214 | 155.7 | 55 | 47 | 140 | 11 | 49 | 140 | 4-11 | 15 | 5 | 75% | | Road Games | 2.41 | 1.366 | 82 | 28 | 22 | 77 | 5 | 35 | 78 | 1-8 | 6 | 4 | 60% |
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| All Games | 30-23 | +4.8 | 25-25 | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 0.403 | 0.730 | 3.9 | 0.247 | 0.302 | 0.386 | 0.689 | | Home Games | 16-12 | +0.2 | 10-17 | 3.2 | 0.256 | 0.317 | 0.366 | 0.683 | 3.2 | 0.231 | 0.286 | 0.334 | 0.620 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 22-20 | -2.1 | 22-17 | 4.2 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 0.403 | 0.730 | 4.2 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.396 | 0.703 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -0.4 | 4-2 | 4.0 | 0.250 | 0.303 | 0.432 | 0.735 | 3.6 | 0.223 | 0.257 | 0.349 | 0.606 | | Grass Games | 30-23 | +4.8 | 25-25 | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 0.403 | 0.730 | 3.9 | 0.247 | 0.302 | 0.386 | 0.689 | | Night Games | 20-17 | +2.4 | 17-17 | 4.1 | 0.272 | 0.329 | 0.403 | 0.732 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.302 | 0.379 | 0.680 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 53 | 1835 | 495 | 90 | 14 | 42 | 0.403 | 205 | 156 | 369 | 28 | 397 | 55 | 29 | 43 | 27 | | Home Games | 3.2 | 0.256 | 0.317 | 28 | 928 | 238 | 35 | 8 | 17 | 0.366 | 85 | 82 | 172 | 17 | 214 | 25 | 17 | 17 | 17 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 42 | 1465 | 396 | 77 | 11 | 32 | 0.403 | 166 | 123 | 282 | 18 | 311 | 43 | 22 | 31 | 24 |
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| All Games | 3.37 | 1.250 | 160 | 66 | 60 | 146 | 13 | 54 | 127 | 7-5 | 16 | 3 | 84.2% | | Home Games | 3.10 | 1.289 | 78.4 | 30 | 27 | 68 | 4 | 33 | 69 | 4-2 | 7 | 2 | 77.8% |
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| 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) | 11-5 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | O | 15 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 5/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | 2-6 | L | 100 | 6 ev | O | 6 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 5-2 | W | 105 | 7 un | P | 10 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 5/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | 1-7 | L | 100 | 7 ov | O | 8 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 1 | | 6/1/2015 | COLE(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 4-3 | W | -125 | 7 un | P | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 6/2/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | COLE(R) | @ ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | | | 6/8/2015 | | MILWAUKEE | | | | 6/9/2015 | | MILWAUKEE | | |
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| 5/19/2015 | HUDSON(R) | LA DODGERS | FRIAS(R) | 2-0 | W | +105 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 1 | | 5/20/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | LA DODGERS | ANDERSON(L) | 4-0 | W | +120 | 7 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 5/21/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | 4-0 | W | +120 | 6 un | U | 9 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 11-8 | W | -110 | 10 ov | O | 14 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | HESTON(R) | @ COLORADO | LYLES(R) | 10-8 | W | -105 | 10 un | O | 14 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2 | | 5/23/2015 | PETIT(R) | @ COLORADO | HALE(R) | 3-5 | L | -115 | 10.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 2 | | 5/24/2015 | HUDSON(R) | @ COLORADO | BETTIS(R) | 2-11 | L | -125 | 10 ev | O | 6 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 8-4 | W | 115 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | 5/26/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 6-3 | W | -130 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 3-1 | W | 110 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 5/28/2015 | HESTON(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 7-0 | W | -130 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 5/29/2015 | HUDSON(R) | ATLANTA | FOLTYNEWICZ(R) | 4-2 | W | -145 | 7 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | 0-8 | L | -145 | 7 un | O | 8 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | | 5/31/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 5-7 | L | -205 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | | 6/1/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 3-4 | L | +115 | 7 un | P | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 6/2/2015 | HESTON(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | HUDSON(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 6/5/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | | @ 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 FRANCISCO: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco Giants lost Pablo Sandoval to big money and the Boston Red Sox. They missed out paying big money to left-hander Jon Lester, who instead signed with the Chicago Cubs.
While the reigning World Series champions are ready to shed that every-other-year title trend, plenty of people wonder whether general manager Brian Sabean and his staff did enough during the offseason to stay near the top in the talented NL West.
Ask manager Bruce Bochy and his players, and they consider the additions of healthy right-hander Matt Cain and center fielder Angel Pagan back into the mix as a big deal right up there with signing a prized free agent.
And, of course, they have World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner ready to build off his remarkable postseason.
As he addressed the team at the start of spring training, Bochy reminded the Giants that it's hard to win consistently year after year.
''We had a great year last year,'' Bochy said. ''We have to go about our business and get ready for a new year. We'll still enjoy and savor those memories but at the same time it's time for us to get ready. ... Your lock on success is as good as that last game, so we've got to get after it.''
Durable right fielder Hunter Pence is sidelined with a broken left forearm that could keep him out until early May, while left fielder Nori Aoki will join the team he lost to in last year's Fall Classic while with the Kansas City Royals.
Casey McGehee, traded to San Francisco from the Marlins, will take over at third base with Sandoval's departure on a $95 million, five-year contract to Boston. He has said he won't try to replace the formerly popular Kung Fu Panda.
''I feel like we get a lot of flak for not doing anything this offseason,'' shortstop Brandon Crawford said. ''We got Aoki, we got McGehee. We have Cain coming back healthy that I think a lot of people forget. We've got Pagan coming back healthy. It's almost like getting four new guys.''
Bochy joked to Aoki - whom he calls ''a catalyst'' - about hitting 30 home runs. The speedy Japanese outfielder responded, ''24.''
''We're playing for a championship,'' Aoki said. ''It's a passionate group of guys.''
Here are some things to look for with the Giants, who have captured three World Series titles in the past five years:
BUMGARNER'S NEXT STEP: Bumgarner threw 270 innings, including 21 with two wins and a save in the World Series.
He went 4-1 during the postseason following an 18-10 regular season. From his four-hit, 10-strikeout gem that got things started in an 8-0 wild-card win at Pittsburgh all the way through his brilliant relief outing in Game 7 of the World Series to beat the Royals, Bumgarner became one of the postseason's best pitchers ever.
''I think he'll be comfortable in his skin,'' pitching coach Dave Righetti said.
HUDSON'S HURRAH: This is it for Tim Hudson, who has said he will retire after his 17th major league season.
He won his first championship last year, advancing out of the first round for the first time.
Now, the 39-year-old pitcher is bouncing back from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, the same one he injured during the 2013 season with Atlanta that sidelined him for the final two months.
PAGAN'S BALKY BACK: Pagan arrived at spring training declaring himself pain-free for the first time in years following back surgery.
Despite some flare-ups, Pagan and the Giants are counting on a full season. He joked to Bochy that he's ready to play 160 games.
Pagan played in only 96 last season and 71 in 2013 because of injuries.
''It's a new slate for everybody, including him,'' Bochy said.
RELIABLE BULLPEN: San Francisco's bullpen is lined up again - Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla. Each of these pitchers has been part of all three title teams.
Casilla became closer after Romo struggled in June, though Bochy knows he can mix and match with these guys. Then, there's Yusmeiro Petit, who showed he can start or relieve with equal efficiency.
''You want to remind them to take advantage of what you have,'' Bochy said. ''We've got a great group here and we don't ever want to lose out on this opportunity.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-SAN FRANCISCO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Giants Preview* ========================
By JACK CASSIDY STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (27-24) at San Francisco (30-23), 10:15 p.m. EDT
On a staff that includes the electric Gerrit Cole, no member of the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation has been better than A.J. Burnett.
Following his first rough outing of the season, Burnett will look to regain his top form Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants.
Pittsburgh (27-24) opened its series in San Francisco (30-23) on a high note behind Cole, who threw seven innings and allowed five hits and two unearned runs while striking out nine.
Andrew McCutchen hit a pair of sacrifice flies, Neil Walker's two-out, two-run double gave Pittsburgh the lead for good in the fifth and Chris Stewart had three doubles in the Pirates' ninth win in 11 games. It was Pittsburgh's first meeting with the Giants since its 8-0 loss in last season's NL wild-card game.
"We were able to play through a lack of execution and got a big swing of the bat from Walker," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Then we pitched the innings we needed to pitch and made the rest of the plays."
Burnett (5-1, 1.81 ERA) can win his sixth consecutive start after the Pirates' bats helped keep his streak alive Thursday in San Diego. The right-hander gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-5 win after previously not allowing more than two in any start and owning a 1.37 ERA in 59 innings.
After getting a total of five runs of support in his first five starts, Burnett has been backed by a whopping 35 in his last five.
He hasn't gotten any help from his offense in his last two outings against the Giants, losing 4-0 in his latest visit to AT&T Park with the Pirates in 2013. He pitched eight shutout innings last season with Philadelphia before the Phillies went on to lose 3-1.
San Francisco, which has dropped three straight for the first time since its eight-game slide in mid-April, will turn to Chris Heston (5-3, 3.82). Like Burnett, Heston has also been the beneficiary of a productive offense, enjoying a 9.38 run-support average in his last four starts, all Giants wins.
He received only one run Thursday, but tossed 7 1-3 scoreless innings before the Giants' offense against exploded late in a 7-0 home win over the Braves. Heston, who joined the rotation in the place of the injured Matt Cain, has a 2.16 ERA at home compared with a 5.79 on the road.
"He's done a nice job," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Filling in for Cain, he's stepped in and thrown the ball well. What's impressed me about this kid is that he's had a couple outings that haven't gone so well, but he's bounced back and been able to put those games behind him."
McCutchen is 27 for 67 (.403) in his last 17 games against San Francisco with 15 runs and nine extra-base hits. The former MVP is hitting .381 since May 7, and is 9 for 19 with five RBIs in his last six.
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| | Last Updated: 5/3/2024 6:14:16 PM EST. |
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