TV, radio: Root Sports, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Facts/Reaction: I know the Indians now play in a stadium called Progressive Field but I refuse to call it that. It's a joke and that place will always be "the Jake". With that being said the Pirates enter interleague play on a 4 game winning streak after sweeping the Astros in Houston. The Pirates record sits at 35-33, which is incredible given the lack of top tier talent and the rash of injuries that the Pirates have endured throughout these last few weeks. In addition to being 2 games over .500 the Pirates are only 3 games behind the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers. If only we could win a game against those Wisconsin Weenies.
Pitching Probables:
Friday, June 17 - Kevin Correia (8-5, 3.73 ERA) vs. Josh Tomlin (7-4, 4.14 ERA)
Saturday, June 18 - Paul Maholm (3-7,3.12 ERA) vs. Carlos Carrasco (6-3, 4.09 ERA)
Sunday, June 19 - Jeff Karstens (4-4, 2.66 ERA) vs. Justin Masterson (5-5, 3.16 ERA)
Stats and Matchup: The Pirates begin a stretch 12 games against the American League, with three of those series' (Baltimore, Boston, Toronto) coming against teams from the American League East. The Pirates have the worst record in interleague play since it began in 1997. However, in the last two years the Pirates are 4-2 against the Cleveland Indians. With that being said, these aren't the same Indians. The Tribe are currently 36-31 and are 1 game back in the AL Central, but they have gone 3-11 in their last 14 games. Since the beginning of June the Indians have been swept by the Rangers (at home) and have lost series' to the Yankees, Twins and rival Tigers. In contrast the Pirates enter the series having won 4 in a row and are 10-5 in the month of June. The Pirates are being powered by a resurgent Andrew McCutchen. Although he recently had his hitting streak ripped away from him (screw you New York Mets) he has been unquestionably the best outfielder, if not the best player in the majors since June 1st. Since the beginning of June, McCutchen is hitting .479, with 6 doubles, 1 home run and 11 RBI in 48 at bats. His OPS in June is 1.218. That's insane. Needless to say that Pirates best player has really stepped up and carried the Bucs during their streak of winning baseball. McCutchen has not been the only factor in the Pirates recent success. Much of the credit has to go to the starting pitching. As a staff; Correia, Morton, Maholm, Karstens and McDonald have combined for the following stat line: 15 starts, 7-3 record, 3.77 ERA and only 3 home runs allowed. The star of the staff in June has been Sunday's starter Jeff Karstens. Karstens was relegated to long relief when the season began but has been spectacular since joining the starting rotation. Since June 1st, Karstens is 1-0 in 3 starts with a 0.44 ERA and a 0.58 WHIP. Those numbers have propelled him to 5th in the National League in ERA (2.66).
Prediction: The Pirates and the Indians enter the series going in two opposite directions and I don't see any reason why things shouldn't stay the course. The Pirates will send Kevin Correia (7-1, 2.42 ERA on the road), Paul Maholm (3.12 ERA) and Jeff Karstens (see above) to the mound over the weekend. The Indians have equally successful pitchers but Josh Tomlin (1-2, 9.53 ERA in June) and Justin Masterson (0-2, 3.48 ERA) have both struggled a bit during the Tribe's current losing streak. I think that the Pirates will stay hot and buck their trend of poor interleague play. I think that the Pirates will win Games 1 and 3 but it wouldn't surprise me if they have a chance to win all 3 games because their starters have done such a great job of giving the team quality starts each and every time they take the ball.
Player(s) to Watch: Lyle Overbay is the only starter for the Pirates with a lot of experience against the Indians. He has hit .269 in 30 career starts against Cleveland while playing for Toronto. He has yet to hit a home run against the Indians and I think that this is the weekend that he finally gets it. Also watch McCutchen because quite frankly he has been nothing short of "en fuego".
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