Pre-game News and Notes: Pirates @ Cardinals 4/4

The Pirates (2-1) will face the St. Louis Cardinals (1-2) tonight at 8:15 PM/ET. The first of a three-game series.

Right-hander Charlie Morton will face Right-hand pitcher Kyle Lohse.

• Morton had a great spring training where he had a 2.63 ERA. The 27-year-old allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits with six walks and 12 strike outs over 24 innings.

Manager Clint Hurdle told Cash Kruth of MLB.com, “Charlie pitched better than anybody in camp, and good for him. That’s why the next step will be the more interesting step. The season will come and we’ll see what that brings. But confidence has been built.”

• Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington said that the club has not yet decided whether left-hander Scott Olsen will need to make some Minor League rehab appearances before rejoining the big league club. Olsen (left shoulder inflammation) is currently in Bradenton, Fla., for extended spring training.
• Neil Walker’s decision to score home in the 9^th inning against the Cubs on Pedro Alvarez’s dribbler, was a gutsy one. Walker said, “Had to take the chance, just had to.”

Thanks to aggressive base running, Walker’s run turned out to be the winning one in the 5-4 victory on Sunday.

Walker told Colin Dunlap of the Post Gazette about his decision.

• Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted some good news for Pirates fans: they may not finish in the basement of the National League Central this year. “Talked with several scouts who think the Pirates will finish ahead of the Astros this year — PITT is better, to them, and Houston is worse.”

Pirates:

Jose Tabata LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Ryan Doumit C, Garrett Jones RF, Ronny Cedeno SS, Charlie Morton RHP

Cardinals:

Ryan Theriot SS, Colby Rasmus CF, Albert Pujols 1B, Lance Berkman RF, Allen Craig LF, David Freese 3B, Yadier Molina C, Skip Schumaker 2B, Kyle Lohse RHP