The Pittsburgh Pirates look to continue their hot play after taking 3 of 4 against Atlanta. They face an unexpected test in the Colorado Rockies. Here are the matchups to watch.
Don’t blink.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won four of their last five games. The Bucs are coming off of a series in which they took three of four games to the worst team in the National League, the Atlanta Braves and currently sit in 6.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Pirates enter the second series of this homestand with momentum and hope to use that momentum to continue their recent success against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. The Bucs, who sport a 22-18 record this season, are 3-0 against the Rockies this season, who are 20-20 on the year. With two high scoring offenses, expect plenty of intriguing matchups during the weekend series.
3.) Gerrit Cole vs Nolan Arenado
Tonight, the Pirates send their Ace Gerrit Cole to the mound to face the Rockies in game one of this three game series at PNC Park. In his last start, Cole was dominant against the Cubs, shutting them out in eight innings of work while giving up three hits and striking out seven. The performance helped lower his ERA to 3.05 on the season as he picked up his fourth victory of the year.
What Cole did on Sunday afternoon against the Cubs was what every ace does. He stopped a short losing streak and helped the Pirates pick up their first victory against the Cubs of the season. He proved to be the undisputed ace of the staff and there’s one particular matchup that will be more than exciting to watch and its the matchup between Cole and Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Arenado, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, is arguably the most exciting player to watch in Major League Baseball. He is a multi tool player who plays an exciting brand of baseball both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
After finishing eighth in NL Most Valuable Player voting last season, Arenado has followed up his stellar 2015 season with a great start in 2016. To start the year, Arenado is hitting .301 with 13 home runs, which leads the National League, and 33 RBI in 40 games. What’s most impressive about Arenado is that he doesn’t strike out as often as maybe you’d expect from a guy who compiles so many at-bats. In fact, in 156 at-bats this season, Arenado has only struck out 16 times while only walking 18 times.
This is what makes this matchup so intriguing. Who wouldn’t want to see two players who are at the top of what they do. Arenado has only faced Cole on two occasions in his career, failing to get a hit in either at-bat.
This matchup is bound to be a battle between two of the best in baseball. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top, the Pirates ace or the Rockies superstar?
2.) Andrew McCutchen vs Tyler Chatwood
Tomorrow night, Tyler Chatwood takes the mound for the Rockies in game two of the series. Chatwood has been stellar for the Rockies this season and you could argue that he is the best starter the Rockies have in their rotation. This season, Chatwood is 5-3 with a 3.20 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 50.2 innings pitched (eight starts).
In his career, Chatwood has yet to face many of the Pirates regular starters including center fielder Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen has had a so-so start to the 2016 season, hitting .248 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in 39 games. However, after an April that saw him hit .226, McCutchen is hitting .279 in 16 May games. This may not seem like much of an improvement, but based on how he was playing at the beginning of the season, it really is.
One thing McCutchen has had a problem with this season is the alarming rate at which he is striking out. This season, he has struck out 42 times in 161 at-bats.
Despite these struggles, they do not diminish the success McCutchen has had in his career, especially against the Rockies. In 46 career games against Colorado, McCutchen is hitting .296 with six home runs, 25 RBI and a .398 On Base Percentage. He has also walked more than he has struck out, compiling 31 walks compared to 29 strikeouts.
Chatwood isn’t much of a strikeout pitcher, but he could be a threat to compile the punchouts, especially against McCutchen. So, the real question is which Andrew McCutchen will show up, not just against Chatwood, but against all of these Colorado starters? The one who has shown to have a stellar success against Colorado throughout his career, or the one who is on pace to strike out more than he ever has in his major league career?
1.) Starling Marte vs Chad Bettis
Our final matchup to watch includes the Rockies starter for Sunday afternoon versus a guy who is just returning after a brief time away from the game. Chad Bettis takes the mound on Sunday for the Rockies and one guy he is likely to face in the lineup is Pirates left fielder Starling Marte.
Marte, who played in his first game since May 15 yesterday against the Braves, is just returning from his stint on the Paternity List following the birth of his daughter.
Marte wasted no time getting back in the swing of things last night, delivering a bloop two-run single into right field to give the Pirates a early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. He went hitless in his next three at-bats, but expect big things from him in the series against Colorado.
Bettis, who is 4-2 this season, is also sporting a less than stellar 4.18 ERA. He has also yet to solve Marte in three appearances against the right handed hitter, giving up a hit in each at-bat against him and even allowing one RBI as well. Marte does tend to hit the ball on the ground a lot and Bettis is a ground ball pitcher, so this matchup could go either way. However, time off may help Marte pick things up and have success against Bettis on Sunday and the Rockies this weekend.
Photo Credit – David Shank – Flickr Commercial License
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