Login  | Free Registration

You are viewing a condensed version of this FoxSheet. Login as a FoxSheets Subscriber to view the full sheet.
Not a member? Subscribe today and start taking advantage of our premium information, including the Game Estimator™, the Super Situations ™, the Power Trends ™, and many more features.
MLB : ATS Matchup
Saturday 9/5/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
PITTSBURGH  MORTON )
 
ST LOUIS  GARCIA )
+1.5  -155

-1.5  +135
+140

-150

7.5ev
 
1
Final
4

PITTSBURGH (80 - 53) at ST LOUIS (86 - 48)
View Previous GameView Next Game
Saturday, 9/5/2015 4:05 PM
CHARLIE MORTON (R) vs. JAIME GARCIA (L)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
905PITTSBURGH+135Ov 7.5,+100+135Ov 7.5,-110
906ST LOUIS-145Un 7.5,-120-145Un 7.5,-110
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
PITTSBURGH - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games80-53+16.260-614.30.2610.3150.3980.7133.70.2510.3060.3620.669
Road Games34-32-0.629-294.30.2590.3120.3940.7064.00.2630.3200.3790.699
vs Left-handed Starters17-12+1.313-154.30.2760.3310.4000.7313.90.2460.3000.3590.660
Past 7 Games3-4-2.85-24.10.2550.3100.3850.6955.00.2720.3240.4170.741
Grass Games80-53+16.260-614.30.2610.3150.3980.7133.70.2510.3060.3620.669
Day Games24-13+1014-194.20.2590.3100.4020.7123.10.2340.2900.3290.619
Division22-32-16.227-213.90.2450.3040.3830.6874.40.2700.3320.3940.726
PITTSBURGH - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.30.2610.31513346191206241251140.39853736310718295611697153122
Road Games4.30.2590.31266236661213512540.3942651825784149256547467
Lefty Starters4.30.2760.331291006278466220.400122832321822527252734
PITTSBURGH - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.661.1844191401243693412736526-13461279.3%
Road Games2.991.321201.4786719616701806-920580%

ST LOUIS - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games86-48+27.652-734.10.2560.3170.3940.7113.10.2440.3020.3570.659
Home Games48-21+18.222-423.90.2640.3270.3960.7222.90.2450.2990.3540.653
vs Right-handed Starters66-32+27.337-534.10.2580.3180.4010.7202.80.2390.2970.3490.646
Past 7 Games4-3+0.55-15.60.3110.3640.4460.8104.70.2920.3510.4230.774
Grass Games86-48+27.652-734.10.2560.3170.3940.7113.10.2440.3020.3570.659
Day Games25-13+7.811-263.80.2570.3140.4000.7152.80.2380.3040.3530.657
Division32-19+9.322-284.00.2450.3050.3630.6673.10.2380.2980.3460.644
ST LOUIS - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.10.2560.31713445691170234301120.3945234101034619571237812739
Home Games3.90.2640.32769229260412514500.3962552154852849968405624
Righty Starters4.10.2580.31898331385518424810.4013782927304069980568625
ST LOUIS - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.461.266395.71201083572414436424-16551282.1%
Home Games2.231.254213.75953202126617216-632586.5%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
PITTSBURGH - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
8/22/2015COLE(R)SAN FRANCISCOLEAKE(R)3-2W-1707 unU401460
8/23/2015LIRIANO(L)SAN FRANCISCOVOGELSONG(R)5-2W-1807 ovP111038110
8/24/2015HAPP(L)@ MIAMIKOEHLER(R)5-2W-1408 evU8130961
8/25/2015MORTON(R)@ MIAMIHAND(L)2-5L-1407.5 unU10711040
8/26/2015LOCKE(L)@ MIAMINARVESON(L)7-2W-1458 unO970530
8/27/2015COLE(R)@ MIAMINICOLINO(L)2-1W-2157 ovU770640
8/28/2015LIRIANO(L)COLORADOGRAY(R)5-3W-2557 evO1090531
8/29/2015HAPP(L)COLORADORUSIN(L)4-3W-2208 ovU872971
8/30/2015MORTON(R)COLORADODE LA ROSA(L)0-5L-1858 unU462761
9/1/2015COLE(R)@ MILWAUKEENELSON(R)4-7L-1607.5 ovO8301040
9/2/2015LOCKE(L)@ MILWAUKEEDAVIES(R)4-9L-1409 ovO6411580
9/3/2015LIRIANO(L)@ MILWAUKEEJUNGMANN(R)3-5L-1307.5 unO8901070
9/4/2015HAPP(L)@ ST LOUISMARTINEZ(R)9-3W1407.5 unO17100870
9/5/2015MORTON(R)@ ST LOUISGARCIA(L) 
9/6/2015COLE(R)@ ST LOUISLACKEY(R) 
9/7/2015LOCKE(L)@ CINCINNATIDESCLAFANI(R) 
9/8/2015LIRIANO(L)@ CINCINNATIIGLESIAS(R) 
9/9/2015HAPP(L)@ CINCINNATISAMPSON(R) 
9/10/2015MORTON(R)MILWAUKEEGARZA(R) 
9/11/2015COLE(R)MILWAUKEEPERALTA(R) 
9/12/2015 MILWAUKEE  

ST LOUIS - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
8/22/2015MARTINEZ(R)@ SAN DIEGOKENNEDY(R)0-8L-1306.5 ovO81011280
8/23/2015WACHA(R)@ SAN DIEGOREA(R)10-3W-1457 unO116111112
8/24/2015LYNN(R)@ ARIZONACHACIN(R)5-3W-1208 unP99214112
8/25/2015GARCIA(L)@ ARIZONARAY(L)9-1W-1207.5 evO12110761
8/26/2015LACKEY(R)@ ARIZONACORBIN(L)3-1W1108 unU660751
8/27/2015MARTINEZ(R)@ ARIZONADE LA ROSA(R)5-3W-1158 unP880680
8/28/2015WACHA(R)@ SAN FRANCISCOLEAKE(R)4-5L1006.5 unO73310130
8/29/2015LYNN(R)@ SAN FRANCISCOVOGELSONG(R)6-0W-1357 unU1380770
8/30/2015GARCIA(L)@ SAN FRANCISCOHESTON(R)7-5W-1157 unO13701250
8/31/2015LACKEY(R)WASHINGTONGONZALEZ(L)8-5W-1257 unO1361890
9/1/2015GONZALES(L)WASHINGTONROSS(R)8-5W+1057.5 evO810112101
9/2/2015LYONS(L)WASHINGTONSCHERZER(R)3-4L+1257 unP16130860
9/4/2015MARTINEZ(R)PITTSBURGHHAPP(L)3-9L-1507.5 unO87017100
9/5/2015GARCIA(L)PITTSBURGHMORTON(R) 
9/6/2015LACKEY(R)PITTSBURGHCOLE(R) 
9/7/2015LYONS(L)CHICAGO CUBSHAREN(R) 
9/8/2015WACHA(R)CHICAGO CUBSHAMMEL(R) 
9/9/2015LYNN(R)CHICAGO CUBSLESTER(L) 
9/10/2015 @ CINCINNATILAMB(L) 
9/11/2015 @ CINCINNATILORENZEN(R) 
9/12/2015 @ CINCINNATI  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
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:
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
ST LOUIS: ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Cardinals hope Michael Wacha is ready to stand alongside ace Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation.
Wacha was the NL Championship Series MVP as a rookie but just 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts last year. He was sidelined for most of the season's second half by a stress reaction in his shoulder, and was rusty in October before giving up Travis Ishikawa's series-winning homer in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Now he feels healthy.
''It's very encouraging, the long term of what this kid could be and the short term of how he feels, somebody every fifth day that can bring the kind of stuff he does,'' St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ''He feels good about himself and we feel good about what we're seeing.''
The 23-year-old Wacha has long insisted the injury is behind him.
''Ever since I came back last year, I haven't thought about it when I was on the mound,'' Wacha said. ''As far as I know, it was a rare injury. I'm not sure where it came from.''
If it stays away, the Cardinals figure to again have one of the deeper starting staffs despite trading 15-game winner Shelby Miller for outfielder Jason Heyward. Wainwright was a 20-game winner for the second time, and Lance Lynn has averaged 16 wins during three years in the rotation.
John Lackey is a proven late-season talent. Jaime Garcia's resurgent spring following surgery to relieve nerve compression may cause promising Carlos Martinez to be related to the bullpen again.
Lackey expects to be more comfortable in his first full NL season, saying ''It's different for a lot of reasons.''
Things to watch for with the Cardinals, who open April 5 at Chicago:
LEFT-HANDED HEAVY
There are five lefty bats in the lineup, a potential downside. But there also figures to be more power on the bench. Mark Reynolds, who has hit 20 or more homers each of the last seven seasons, was signed as a free agent. He could factor in as a semi-regular, especially at first base, where Matt Adams has struggled against lefties.
HEYWARD TIME
Only 25, Heyward is a potential future core member of the franchise. His is eligible for free agency after the World Series, and the wooing began not long after the trade with Atlanta - which also brought set-up man Jordan Walden.
''He fits in very well with how our guys work, how seriously they take the game,'' Matheny said. ''He's mixed in very well to this point.''
IMPROVED POP
St. Louis hit just 105 homers last season, second-fewest in the majors. They Cardianls are anticipating more out of right field from Heyward, who had a career-low 11 last year while forced into the leadoff spot with Atlanta. Jhonny Peralta followed his drug suspension with a 21 homers, a franchise record among shortstops, and the smooth-swinging Adams is capable of hitting a lot more than 15.
HEALTHY CHOICES
A full return by Garcia would be an unexpected bonus after two injury-filled seasons. Wainwright and Lynn are recovering from health setbacks early in spring training. Center fielder Jon Jay made a delayed exhibition debut following wrist surgery. ''I said the whole goal was to be ready April 5,'' Jay said.
MORE SPEED
Along with increasing the power profile, there will be an emphasis on manufacturing runs. The Cardinals stole 57 bases last year, third-fewest in the major leagues, but are primed for at least a little more thievery with both Wong and Heyward capable of swiping 20-plus.
''I want to see bigger leads. I want to see more aggressive chances with balls in the dirt,'' Matheny said. ''I want to see us take a first-and-second double steal because we have the kind of players to do that.''
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-ST LOUIS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Pirates-Cardinals Preview* ===========================

By KEVIN MASSOTH STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (79-53) at St. Louis (86-47), 4:05 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates may have loosened St. Louis' grip on the NL Central, but they'll need Charlie Morton to change his luck against the Cardinals to inch any closer.

Morton and the Pirates get that chance Saturday as the pivotal division series against the Cardinals continues at Busch Stadium.

The Pirates ended a four-game losing streak Friday with a 9-3 victory which was just their eighth in 29 games at Busch Stadium since the start of 2013 - including a 1-2 showing there in the 2013 division series.

A win Saturday would give Pittsburgh its first series win in St. Louis since April 26-28, 2013, and more importantly cut into the Cardinals' 5 1/2-game division lead.

The Pirates (80-53) need to improve on their 8-21 road record against the Central to chew into that deficit, starting with five games in as many days in St. Louis and Cincinnati. Pittsburgh is 22-32 against its own division.

"One of the things we need to be mindful of - and I share this with the guys - is that past performance doesn't need to predict future performance," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "Past performance needs to be used as information for present success."

The Pirates, four games up on the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race, can build off a 17-hit performance in the opener that moved their season record at Busch to 2-5. The hit total was their most against the Cardinals since June 29, 2012.

Morton (8-6, 4.22 ERA) was on the disabled list with a hip injury during Pittsburgh's first two series against St. Louis this year and didn't line up to pitch in the next two.

The right-hander is 2-10 with a 5.58 ERA in 16 starts against the Cardinals and the Pirates have lost each of his last nine outings against them - a span in which he is 0-7 with a 5.13 ERA. Morton is 1-4 with a 6.38 ERA in eight road starts against the Cardinals.

St. Louis (86-48) has lost two straight, but manager Mike Matheny said his team wouldn't alter its playing style this series.

"For us to change how we've gone about it and build this series up would be crazy," he told MLB's official website. "We get that there is a lot of build-up to this, and hopefully there is a buzz in this stadium all weekend long and into next week."

Jaime Garcia takes the mound for his first start against the Pirates in three years.

Garcia (7-4, 2.03) has won his last four decisions and the Cardinals have been victorious in his last six starts. The left-hander holds a 2.08 ERA during that time.

The stretch includes his roughest outing of the year, though, in a 7-5 win over San Francisco on Sunday. Garcia - 1-1 with a 0.84 ERA in three career starts against Pittsburgh - surrendered season highs in hits (10) and earned runs (four) in 6 1-3 innings while finishing with a season-low one strikeout.

St. Louis was held scoreless Friday until rookie Stephen Piscotty's RBI double in the eighth. Piscotty is hitting .426 with 12 RBIs during a career-best 11-game hitting streak.

Brandon Moss also kept swinging a hot bat, recording his fourth multi-hit game in a row on the tail end of an eight-game hitting streak in which he is batting .464.

Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay entered in the sixth and went 0 for 2 in his return from a left wrist injury that sidelined him in late June.

Andrew McCutchen was back in the lineup for the Pirates and went 2 for 4 after missing a game with left knee soreness.


Last Updated: 3/19/2024 4:38:40 AM EST.


You are viewing a condensed version of this FoxSheet. Login as a FoxSheets Subscriber to view the full sheet.
Not a member? Subscribe today and start taking advantage of our premium information, including the Game Estimator™, the Super Situations ™, the Power Trends ™, and many more features.