DHP_5437
    Mark Melancon was not available to pitch tonight in the Pirates 4-3 win of the Cubs Wednesday night but manager Clint Hurdle said prior to the game that Melancon will stay in the closer role.
    “He’s going to close tomorrow, if we have a lead late,” Hurdle said. “For me it would be an absolute overreaction to one blown save to make a switch now.”
    Melancon’s cutter velocity has slipped to around 88 mph and has even sat at 87. “I still believe that the velocity will get back to where we’ve seen it,” Hurdle said.
2014 Stats: 8.53 ERA, 2 SV, 4 SO, 3 BB, 1.89 WHIP