Here’s all we know right now: Francisco Liriano is on the disabled list and Stolmy Pimentel is back with the Pirates. The Pirates did not stretch Pimentel out that much on his rehab assignment, so he’s unlikely to start in Liriano’s place on Sunday. We’ll have to wait until later to see who is likely to start in his place, though smart money would be on Casey Sadler or Vance Worley.
Until then, the Pirates have to try and find a way to get out of PNC Park with at least one more win against the Cubs. Tonight, Brandon Cumpton faces Jason Hammel. Cumpton has been really unimpressive with the Pirates this year, and were the Pirates not more or less entirely out of starting pitching, I’d be telling you right now that Cumpton is pitching for his job. I guess if you believe the rosiest reports about Gerrit Cole, that might still be true. Hammel has been really excellent this year, and if the Pirates were looking at rental pitchers, he’d be one name I’d be suggesting right now (though, now that you mention it, he was a free agent this winter and he’s only making $6 million this year). Seeing him matched up with Cumpton makes me awfully nervous.
First pitch tonight is at 7:05.
