Pre-game Notes 9/30: Pirates vs Marlins

 Notes:

• The Pirates play their final four games of the season against the Marlins starting Thursday night. They were 1-2 at Sun Life Stadium last year and have lost four of six in Miami.
• In 26 games this month, Andrew McCutchen is hitting .341 with eight doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI and 22 runs scored.
• In the last two games, the Pirates pitching staff has allowed three earned runs in 17 innings pitched. The team ERA is at 5.03 and has not been below 5.00 since 7/30.
• The Pirates have homered in two of their last three games and in nine of their last 14.
• Since the All-Star break Neil Walker is tied for third in the league with 53 RBI, trailing the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki (61) and Carlos Gonzalez (57). Albert Pujols is tied with Walker at 53.
• The Pirates are 12-14 in September and if they take three-of-four from the Fish they can finish the final month of September with a winning record –the first .500 month all season. 
• I have yet to see any of the Pirates rookie hazing photos surface. Here are some good ones though curtsey of Babes love Baseball: 

 

Florida Marlins

Boston Red Sox

Minnesota Twins

Philadelphia Phillies

Chicago Cubs

Cincinnati Reds

 

 

Pitching Matchup:

 

LHP Zach Duke (8-14, 5.63 ERA)

Vs

RHP Chris Volstad (11-9, 4.63 ERA)

 

Duke is making his 29th and final start of the season –and possibly in a Pirates uniform. He got the W against the Astros his last start allowing three runs on seven hits through six plus innings. Duke has pitched into the seventh inning in his last two starts after not pitching past the fourth in his previous two. In one start this season against the Fish, Duke is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA.

 

Volstad is making his 30th start of the season. He averages 5.2 innings per start and has produced quality starts in 14 of his 29 starts this year. Volstad beat the Brewers 4-0 –his second shutout in a row– and allowed six hits through 6.2 innings. His other shutout –which was a complete game– came on 9/20 against the Cardinals.

 

Pirates Lineup:

McCutchen 8

Tabata 7

Walker 4

Jones 3

Alvarez 5

Bowker 9

Cedeno 6

Snyder 2

Duke 1

 

Marlins Lineup:

Bonifacio 8

Martinez 6

Morrison 7

Uggla 4

Sanchez 3

Stanton 9

Helms 5

Davis 2

Volstad 1