The Pirates look to avoid their first two-game losing streak of 2011 tonight against the Rockies with Ross Ohlendorf taking the mound against coulda-been-a-Pirate Jorge de la Rosa. Ohlendorf is still trying to distance himself from his rough spring. His first start against the Cubs on Sunday was decent, but he pretty clearly petered out as the game ran out. Two of his four walks came in the fourth inning and he was hit around pretty hard in both the fifth and sixth. Obviously the Pirates would like to get him to where he was last summer (low win total notwithstanding, of course) and a good start today is especially important after Paul Maholm’s short start yesterday afternoon.
Of course, the weather in Pittsburgh is ugly tonight and while they’ll almost certainly play, a shifted start time could definitely mess with a pitcher having endurance problems. De la Rosa is also the first lefty starter the Pirates have faced this year and I’m a bit concerned with that; Pedro Alvarez struggles with lefties, Neil Walker and Ryan Doumit aren’t as good from the right side, Lyle Overbay isn’t that great against lefties anymore, and Matt Diaz will likely start. That may mean that we’re going to see an offensive effort tonight like the one that matches yesterdays.
First pitch tonight is scheduled for 7:05, though it’s obviously up in the air with the weather.
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