The Pirates (39 – 26) look for the sweep of the Giants (33 – 31) tonight after winning the battle of the bats last night by the score of 12 – 8. Charlie Morton will make his 2013 debut and will oppose Matt Cain (4 – 3, 5.09 ERA).
This will be Morton’s first start since May 29th of last season vs. Cincinnati where he went 4 innings while giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in a loss. Last season, Morton went 2 – 6 with a 4.65 ERA in 9 games before getting shut down for season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on June 14th. (1 year ago tomorrow)
In four years with the Pirates, Morton is 19 – 37 in 73 starts with the Pirates and has a 4.85 ERA in that time with 256 strikeouts and 154 walks. His best season with the Bucs came in 2011 where he went 10 – 10 with a 3.83 ERA. Manager, Clint Hurdle hopes to see the stuff Charlie Morton had then out on the mound this season; “From the reports I have been getting, does it look the same? I haven’t seen him in person. I’ve seen video, it’s not the same and I’m looking forward to seeing him. If we can go get the Charlie that we had the first half of the season in 2011, we’ll take that in a bottle and roll. I think he’s heading in that direction.”
Worth Noting
— A.J. Burnett will miss his Start on Friday vs. the Dodgers with a right calf issue. No word yet (as of 4:15 pm) if he will be put on the DL. Jeff Locke will be pushed up a day and start on Friday. No starter has been announced for Saturday.
— Last night, the Pirates top four batters combined to go 13-for-19 with 8 runs scored. Each player collected at least three hits apiece. According to Elias, this is only the fourth time in the last 59 seasons (since 1954) that the Pirates top four had at least three hits apiece. (April 16, 1996, August 13, 1974, May 13, 2004)
— Starling Marte (20 SB) and Andrew McCutchen (15 SB) are the only teammates in the Majors who have at least 15 stolen bases this season. The last pair to have at least 20 before the All-Star break were Andy Van Slyke (21 SB) and Barry Bonds (20 SB) in 1987.
First pitch is set for 7:05.
(Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
