Pre-game: Volquez (1-3) vs. Lynn (4-1)
Game: Cardinals (18-18) at Pirates (15-20)
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Site: PNC Park
TV, Radio: Root Sports, KDKA-FM 93.7
Weather: High 60s, and chance of rain
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RHP Lance Lynn (4-1, 3.51) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (1-3, 4.19 ERA)
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Notes from Clint Hurdle's media briefing with reporters:
1. Wandy Rodriguez is improving and manager Clint Hurdle announced he is scheduled to start Thursday in Milwaukee. Rodriguez will have to be activated from the DL before then, and said he wants to throw one more bullpen session before the start.
2. Jason Grilli update. Hurdle: "Threw another (bullpen) yesterday. Doing well. Making progress. He's starting to feel aggressive. Cut the ball loose a little bit, he's heading in the right direction."
Grilli will likely need some rehab appearances. Hurdle: "That's my thought. We'll get his thoughts. He's a part of this."
3. Will Grilli automatically return to the closer role? Hurdle: "We're going to go through this one day at a time based on what we feel and see. But I hate to take a guy away from his job because of an injury. Last year that's the way it worked out. Coming back form his injury last year we wanted to make sure he's sharp...So we'll see."
4. On whether Edinson Volquez got into any bad habits in his last outings:
"He’s had a couple challenges with some front side quickness which has gotten him out of the strike zone more than he’d like to be. He was able to reign him back in. Truth be told at the end of the day he’s given up some multi-run homers. There’s been a pitch sequence in play, jeez, you throw a pitch you think is a strike and the count’s not 1-2, now it’s 2-1 and the next pitch it’s hit out. Not excuses, just the reality of dealing with sometimes there’s a very fine line with success and not being successful at this level. Sometimes it’s inches. I want to see him stay aggressive. Pound the zone, pound it down. Use the changeup. Spin the ball. I think he’s in a very good place to have that consistent game we’re looking for.”
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From today's PG:
Game story: Pirates beat Cardinals behind Walker's big hit
Pirates notebook: Baseball denies appeals
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Pirates lineup:
- Jose Tabata LF
- Josh Harrison RF
- Neil Walker 2B
- Pedro Alvarez 3B
- Starling Marte CF
- Ike Davis 1B
- Tony Sanchez C
- Jordy Mercer SS
- Edinson Volquez RHP
Cardinals lineup:
- Carpenter 3B
- Peralta SS
- Holliday LF
- Craig RF
- Adams 1B
- Ellis 2B
- Bourjos CF
- Cruz C
- Lynn P
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