Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates Pirates (5-7) @ Reds (8-4)
Charlie Morton (1-0, 2.08 ERA) vs Bronson Arroyo (2-0, 2.08 ERA)
Game Buzz
The Pirates looking to get anything going offensively, will tweak their lineup once again tonight against first place Cincinnati Reds.
Manager Clint Hurdle will move the struggling Andrew McCutchen into the leadoff spot and Neil Walker into the No. 4 spot.
McCutchen who got off to an excellent start, was 2-for-23 during the Pirates 1-5 homestand.
McCutchen’s batting average has plummeted to .220 and he is 0-9 in his career against tonight’s Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.
Jose Tabata who leads the Pirates with a .302 batting average and .444 on base percentage, will bat second.
Pedro Alvarez returns to the lineup and will bat 5th.
The Pirates have just 8 hits in their last 2 games and lead the majors with 105 strikeouts.
The Pirates face a tough series against a Reds team that has won 12 of 15 games at home against the Pirates.
Reds Starter Bronson Arroyo is 2-0 on the season with a 2.08 ERA. He has struck out 11 batters and walked 0 in 13 innings this season.
Arroyo is 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA in his last 6 starts against the Pirates.
Charlie Morton takes the mound for the Pirates. Morton is 1-0 on the season and has given his ballclub a chance to win in both starts.
The concern for Morton though this season has been his amount of walks and lack of strikeouts. He has walked 10 batters in 13 innings pitched and has only struck out 3 batters.
Morton has not had success against the Reds.
Morton is 0-4 with a 7.18 ERA in his last 5 games against the Reds and 1-4 all-time against the Reds.
Pirates Lineup
1. Andrew McCutchen, CF, .220
2. Jose Tabata, LF, .302
3. Lyle Overbay, 1B, .239
4. Neil Walker, 2B, .271
5. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, .196
6. Garrett Jones, RF, .172
7. Chris Snyder, C, .000
8. Ronny Cedeno, SS, .188
9. Charlie Morton, P
NOTES: The Pirates this afternoon designated reliever Garrett Olson for assignment and have purchased the contract of Joe Beimel.
