Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 4, 2020 17:07:11 GMT -5
St. Louis Cardinals (2-2) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (2-1)
STL: Fancisco F. Rios (0-0, 0.00)
PIT: Braedon Ogle (0-0, 0.00)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the surprise teams of the offseason, remaking nearly their entire club. The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the surprise teams of last regular season, nearly winning the National League Central.
The two clubs will try to determine where they stand in the NL Central pecking order when they face off for the Game of the Week.
Pittsburgh added a host of players in the offseason and looked good in taking two of three from the Reds to start the year. Yoan Moncada hit .300 with three doubles, three RBIs, and four walks to begin the year. Christian Arroyo is as hot as he was when he first joined a Pennsylvania team last season, and the Pirates are second in the early going in on-base percentage. The Pirates hit only one home run though, which will put extra pressure on the offense to crank out hits.
Despite all the newcomers to the rotation, Braedon Ogle is scheduled to be the starter for the Pirates. Matt Wisler, Rick Porcello, Kevin Horney, and Tyler Megill have all been relegated to the pen as Pittsburgh is using a number of former starters in relief roles. Ogle didn't have the best season last year in his first as a full-time starter, but earned the job with a good Spring Training.
He'll take on a Cardinals team that struggled to score in a four-game split with the Brewers. Despite Addison Russell going 7-16 with three walks, the Cardinals managed only eight runs. A season after posting a .260 OBP as a starter, Jose Adolis Garcia reached base only three times in 15 Plate Appearances over the weekend. Just as unnerving, Josh Donaldson may be continuing a steep decline. He went 0-14 with six strikeouts in the series with Milwaukee. With Nick Pratto also struggling to produce, the Cardinals offense couldn't deliver.
The Cardinals will turn to Francisco F. Rios for the start. He operated as a swingman last year to decent success, with a 3.22 ERA in 49 games, five of them starts. He doesn't have to work long into the game as the Cardinals bullpen has been terrific to begin the season. They worked 13 innings against Milwaukee and didn't yield a single run. Zack Burdi worked 3.1 innings without allowing a run and earning the win in the season opener. Jack Flaherty debuted yesterday, working 2 scoreless innings, coaxing five ground ball outs, and not yielding a hit in earning the win.
Pittsburgh may have to do its damage early, before getting into St. Louis' bullpen.
Questions for the GMs:
For Justin Jones, you briefly managed the Pirates last season. Are you surprised with their roster overhaul that makes them almost unrecognizable from when you piloted the club?
Josh Donaldson was rough last year and is off to a brutal start. How long of a leash would he have if he continues to struggle?
Daniel Brito has a sprained knee that hasn't stopped him from getting off to a blistering start this year. Will we see him in the lineup today?
For Neil Thomas, you dedicated a lot of resources in the offseason to improving your rotation. Are you upset your guys couldn't beat out Ogle for the fourth starter job?
Anderson A. Tejada is due off the IL. Will we see him today?
Your club hasn't hit for much power in the early going. Will we see Dan Vogelbach or Ryan O'Hearn in the lineup to supply some punch?
TRIVIA: Among players who have started the most games at Second Base for Pittsburgh in a season, who is the only player to hit for double digit home runs for them in a year?
STL: Fancisco F. Rios (0-0, 0.00)
PIT: Braedon Ogle (0-0, 0.00)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the surprise teams of the offseason, remaking nearly their entire club. The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the surprise teams of last regular season, nearly winning the National League Central.
The two clubs will try to determine where they stand in the NL Central pecking order when they face off for the Game of the Week.
Pittsburgh added a host of players in the offseason and looked good in taking two of three from the Reds to start the year. Yoan Moncada hit .300 with three doubles, three RBIs, and four walks to begin the year. Christian Arroyo is as hot as he was when he first joined a Pennsylvania team last season, and the Pirates are second in the early going in on-base percentage. The Pirates hit only one home run though, which will put extra pressure on the offense to crank out hits.
Despite all the newcomers to the rotation, Braedon Ogle is scheduled to be the starter for the Pirates. Matt Wisler, Rick Porcello, Kevin Horney, and Tyler Megill have all been relegated to the pen as Pittsburgh is using a number of former starters in relief roles. Ogle didn't have the best season last year in his first as a full-time starter, but earned the job with a good Spring Training.
He'll take on a Cardinals team that struggled to score in a four-game split with the Brewers. Despite Addison Russell going 7-16 with three walks, the Cardinals managed only eight runs. A season after posting a .260 OBP as a starter, Jose Adolis Garcia reached base only three times in 15 Plate Appearances over the weekend. Just as unnerving, Josh Donaldson may be continuing a steep decline. He went 0-14 with six strikeouts in the series with Milwaukee. With Nick Pratto also struggling to produce, the Cardinals offense couldn't deliver.
The Cardinals will turn to Francisco F. Rios for the start. He operated as a swingman last year to decent success, with a 3.22 ERA in 49 games, five of them starts. He doesn't have to work long into the game as the Cardinals bullpen has been terrific to begin the season. They worked 13 innings against Milwaukee and didn't yield a single run. Zack Burdi worked 3.1 innings without allowing a run and earning the win in the season opener. Jack Flaherty debuted yesterday, working 2 scoreless innings, coaxing five ground ball outs, and not yielding a hit in earning the win.
Pittsburgh may have to do its damage early, before getting into St. Louis' bullpen.
Questions for the GMs:
For Justin Jones, you briefly managed the Pirates last season. Are you surprised with their roster overhaul that makes them almost unrecognizable from when you piloted the club?
Josh Donaldson was rough last year and is off to a brutal start. How long of a leash would he have if he continues to struggle?
Daniel Brito has a sprained knee that hasn't stopped him from getting off to a blistering start this year. Will we see him in the lineup today?
For Neil Thomas, you dedicated a lot of resources in the offseason to improving your rotation. Are you upset your guys couldn't beat out Ogle for the fourth starter job?
Anderson A. Tejada is due off the IL. Will we see him today?
Your club hasn't hit for much power in the early going. Will we see Dan Vogelbach or Ryan O'Hearn in the lineup to supply some punch?
TRIVIA: Among players who have started the most games at Second Base for Pittsburgh in a season, who is the only player to hit for double digit home runs for them in a year?
