The Pirates (39 – 27) open up a 3-game set against the Dodgers (28 – 37) tonight. Jeff Locke (5 – 1, 2.39 ERA) will start for the Bucs and will oppose Stephen Fife (1 -1 , 3.78 ERA).
Leading Off
— Major League Baseball has come out with its fines and suspensions from the Dodgers-Diamondbacks brawl a few nights ago. These will affect the series here this weekend (Unless the players appeal). Pitcher, J.P. Howell and IF/OF, Skip Schumaker will both serve 2-game suspensions. Pitcher, Ronald Belisario will serve a 1-game suspension. Manager, Don Mattingly, received a 1-game suspension and will serve it tonight. Bench Coach, Mark McGwire, will serve a 2-game suspension tonight and tomorrow. The Dodgers will also be not allowed to have anyone on the DL in the dugout for the series. Also, Zach Greinke and Yasiel Puig have been fined for their actions.
— Brandon Cumpton will start tomorrow afternoon against the Dodgers. He posted a 4 – 4 record at AAA Indianapolis with a 3.31 ERA. “He’s one of our guys. He’s developed organizationally” said manager, Clint Hurdle. “He’s, basically, a 3-pitch guy. 8 of his last 9 outings, he’s given up 2 earned runs or less. He averages 6+ innings.”
Cumpton is currently on the taxi squad and the Pirates have until 1:05 tomorrow to make a 40-man & 25-man roster move to get him on.
Hurdle’s Quotes
On Locke’s effectiveness so early in his ML career – “There’s not a hitter that likes the ball in tight. So, when you get the ball in tight for strikes, then you can move it in 6 inches farther and stay in there where the hitter is not sure where the strike zone is. Sometimes you get strike one that’s on the plate then you move it in a bit farther. There has been a history of left-handers that don’t throw it hard that have been able to do that throughout the course of the game.”
Other Notes
— A.J. Burnett was placed on the 15-day DL (retro to 6/9) with a Grade 1 Tear in his right calf. He said it happened while running in his typical off-day routine. His right leg is in a protective walking boot.
— Jeff Locke has been charged with three runs or less in each of his 10 starts and 11 of his 13 overall. His 2.39 ERA ranks 7th overall in the NL and 3rd among lefties behind Clayton Kershaw (1.88) and Patrick Corbin (2.28).
— The Pirates can become the 5th team in the majors with 40 wins this season (Atlanta also enters tonight with 39 wins). This would be the 1st time since 1991 (there’s that number again) that the Buccos posted 40 wins within 67 games (’91 team did it in 64 games in LA).
— Starling Marte is listed as day-to-day with soreness in his ribs after sliding head-first into second in the 7th inning of the Pirates 12 – 8 victory over the Giants on Wednesday night.
First pitch is set for 7:05.
Follow Travis on twitter @TBerardi_OVA
(Photo Credit: Vincent Pugliese/Getty Images)
