I said before this series with the Mets started that I wanted to see the Pirates win three games and I haven’t seen anything so far that makes me want to change that goal. The Mets are bumbling, disoriented, and very, very frustrated right now and the Pirates have a chance to deliver a finishing blow in this series. It’s something they’re going to need because except for next week, when they play the Mets and the Astros, the Pirates schedule in June is pretty stacked with good teams.
I think what the Pirates need to do today is exactly what they did in Paul Maholm’s last start; jump all over Mike Pelfrey right out of the gate. They’ve exasperated the Mets with two improbable late inning victories and this seems like a good chance to pour on some runs early and take the Mets out of the game early. Pelfrey’s been giving up plenty of gopherballs this year (nine in 63 innings) and plenty of hits (70) without many strikeouts, so he might be a guy the Pirates can get to (except, of course, for the fact that Clint Hurdle has elected to start Xavier Paul AND Matt Diaz AND Dusty Brown today; I’d be OK with two of them but starting Diaz against a righty is more or less trying to sabotage your chances to win at this point).
Paul Maholm looks to continue his strong May into June for the Bucs on the mound today. First pitch is at 1:10.
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