Jeff Locke’s last start was really bad, and then somehow the Pirates gave the game a worse ending. I want to tell you that he’s pitching for his job, but he’s probably not because with Charlie Morton in Vance Worley’s spot, there’s not really anyone to take his job from him. The Pirates have lost five of their last six games. This is very hard to get excited for.
Josh Harrison is starting in right field and batting leadoff tonight, while Gregory Polanco sits. Polanco has very quietly spent the last month slumping to below his 2014 level of play, which was bad enough in 2014 to get him benched for Travis Snider. Given how much weight was put by the team on Polanco progressing into a starting outfielder this year, this is a situation worth monitoring while the Pirate offense attempts to sputter to life.
Mike Pelfrey starts for the Twins. His current 3.23 ERA is a miracle with his strikeout rate (3.9/9 innings), walk rate (3.5/9 innings) and the fact that he’s leading the American League in hit batsmen. That’s a stat-line that belongs much more in 1915 than it does in 2015. Pelfrey has a combined two strikeouts in his last three starts. You can see what I’m building towards: I’m almost terrified to see what this Pirate offense does against a pitcher that can’t strike anyone out. I don’t want to know.
The first pitch is at 7:05. I’ve penciled in turning the game off in exasperation for 7:47.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
