Here’s the lineup that Clint Hurdle is putting out on the field tonight against Jaime Garcia in what is supposedly a good-faith attempt to return to first place:
- Chase d’Arnaud, 3B. Meaning that the leadoff hitter has an OBP of .240 and the third baseman has a slugging percentage of .280.
- Ronny Cedeno, SS. Combined OBP of the Pirates’ first two hitters: .554. Jose Bautista’s OBP all by his lonesome: .465
- Neil Walker, 2B
- Andrew McCutchen, CF
- Steve Pearce, RF. Career games in the outfield, MLB/MiLB combined: 139
- Matt Diaz, LF
- Brandon Wood, 1B. Combined slugging percentage of the Pirates’ corner infielders tonight: .636. Jose Bautista’s SLG: .686.
- Mike McKenry, C
- Kevin Correia, P
This lineup could, without even a little bit of hyperbole, lose to the Durham Bulls. At the four corner positions tonight, they’re playing Chase d’Arnaud, Steve Pearce, Matt Diaz, and Brandon Wood. Pearce is the only one you can even make an argument for as even potentially having big league power and he hasn’t played since May. Hurdle rightly likes his platoon and Alex Presley is a late scratch with a bruised thumb, which forces his hand a bit, but holy crap is that lineup B-A-D.
Kevin Correia will attempt to pilot this modern day version of the Flying Dutchman to a win tonight against Garcia. First pitch is at 7:05.
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