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Pirates and Cardinals battle Friday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 5/8/2015  at  10:00:00 AM
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ST LOUIS CARDINALS (21-7)

at PITTSBURGH PIRATES (13-15)

First pitch: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Pittsburgh -120, St. Louis +110, Total: 8

Division rivals clash as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of three games over the weekend.

It is no surprise that the Cardinals have started out the year hot once again and have yet to lose a series in 2015; coming into this contest with victories in nine of their last 10 outings. Each of those games was at home and the last seven were against NL Central opponents as they are fresh off a 3-1 series win against the Cubs to start the week. St. Louis lit up the scoreboard with 27 runs in the set and finished it off with a nice 5-1 win on Thursday afternoon. Starter John Lackey pitched a great game (7.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 10 K) and was backed by a 3-for-4 day with a RBI from OF Jason Heyward (.248); who is riding a four-game hitting streak in which he is 7-for-15 with nine runs scored. As their opponent in this one has excelled, the Pirates have not had as successful a start and have lost seven of their last nine games. The offense was putrid in that time, scoring a total of seven runs in the losses with one or fewer runs in five contests. They were able to snap a five-game losing streak on Thursday night, though, defeating the Reds 7-2 behind 11 hits and a 5-15 mark with RISP. With a 2-for-4 night, 2B Neil Walker (.280) continued his solid year and brings a three-game hitting streak into this contest. Starting in this rivalry game for the visiting Cardinals will be 23-year-old RHP Michael Wacha (4-0, 1.93 ERA) as he looks to keep his record perfect in a dual with LHP Francisco Liriano (1-1, 1.95 ERA). The road hasn’t given St. Louis too many issues thus far as they are 7-4 when away from home and are taking on this Pirates group which just snuck over .500 (7-6) with their win on Thursday night. It has been a fairly even series between these clubs over the last three years with the Cardinals holding the 26-20 edge, but have not done well when in Pittsburgh, going a putrid 7-14 in front of the black and gold’s most faithful. The first series with these teams on the year ended in a sweep by St. Louis as they won each game by a single run in extra innings. Trends show that the Cardinals are 52-23 (.693) against NL Central opponents since the start of 2013 while the Pirates are 92-53 (.634) in home games against right-handed pitching over the same timeframe. Both 3B Matt Carpenter (Rest) and OF Matt Holliday (Rest) should return to the lineup after resting against the Cubs on Thursday as OF Randal Grichuk (Back) and Tommy Pham (Quad) are out while Pittsburgh has no significant injuries to its offense.

Wacha is proving to be the ace that this staff needs with Wainwright out for the year and through his first five starts (32.2 IP) has a 1.93 ERA as he leaves 87% of runners on base. His control has looked phenomenal as well, walking a mere 2.2 batters per nine innings as just two ball have left the yard against him (0.55 HR/9). What is surprising, though, are his strikeouts, as he has a mere 18 so far (5.0 K/9) after posting 7.9 K/9 over 19 starts last year. He is coming off a solid outing against this Pittsburgh team in his last start, pitching 6.2 scoreless innings of five-hit ball in which he struck out two batters (2 walks). Overall in his young career against the Pirates, Wacha is 2-0 (3-1 team record) with a 1.38 ERA (0.85 WHIP) and has a 20:7 K/BB ratio over the 26 frames. Despite pitching so well against them, OF Andrew McCutchen has managed a solid 3-for-9 mark against the righty as 3B Pedro Alvarez, OF Starling Marte and 2B Neil Walker are a combined 3-for-19 (.158). The Cards currently have the best bullpen in the game and the relievers have gone 9-2 with a 1.47 ERA (1.08 WHIP) as they’ve successfully saved 14-of-16 games. Trevor Rosenthal (1.23 ERA, 10 saves) has blown one save in 11 chances, allowing a meager eight hits over 14.2 innings on the mound.

Liriano has been a stud for the Pirates since coming to the team after putting up some sub-par performances as a Twin. He is following up two straight seasons of a sub-3.40 ERA with seven runs allowed in his first five starts (1.95 ERA) as his team has actually lost in four of his five outings. The lefty is on pace to strikeout at least a batter per inning for the fourth consecutive season as he has 9.5 K/9 and has let up only two homers (0.56 HR/9). It seems as though he may be getting somewhat lucky, though, with batters hitting .167 BABIP against him and 85% of runners being left on base. He’s had a stellar career against the Cardinals, going 4-1 (7-3 team record) with a 1.97 ERA (0.95 WHIP) and has gone at least six innings in eight of those starts. The 31-year-old will need to be careful when facing SS Jhonny Peralta as he is 15-for-46 (.326) with two HRs, six RBI and 10 walks in the matchup while both C Yadier Molina and 3B Mark Reynolds have a solo homer against the lefty, but overall are just 3-for-31 (.097) with nine strikeouts together. The ‘pen for Pittsburgh has pitched to a 2-8 record as they’ve posted a 3.07 ERA (1.32 WHIP) and have saved 6-of-11 games. Mark Melancon (4.38 ERA, 5 saves) has one blown save on the year and has not given up a run in his last six outings (6 IP) with a miniscule three hits allowed and one walk over the period.


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