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Pre-game: Locke vs. Kendrick

Jenn Menendez 9 years ago

Game: Pirates (74-68) at Phillies (66-76)

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Site: Citizens Bank Park

TV, radio: Root Sports, KDKA-FM 93.7

Weather: 73 and cloudy

LISTEN: Clint Hurdle’s pre-game meeting with media

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Not a ton to share in Today’s news from Clint Hurdle’s chat with the media, but the lineup is out and Brent Morel will start at third base in place of Josh Harrison.

*Harrison, though not in the lineup, will be available to pinch hit, said Hurdle.

*Hurdle said there is no update yet on the prognosis of Pedro Alvarez. He is in Philadelphia with the team. 

*Russell Martin will “get a break” sometime this week, but declined to share when. 

*GM Neal Huntington is here at the game tonight and is expected to be in town for the whole four-game series. 

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UPDATE 7 p.m.: Reliever Ernesto Frieri was released by the Pirates on Monday, the club confirmed. Frieri, who was acquired from the Anaheim Angels in a classic change of scenery trade for Jason Grilli, never did benefit from switching clubs.

Frieri posted 10.13 ERA in 10 2/3 innings with the Pirates before he was eventually designated for assignment and then outrighted to Class AAA Indianapolis. When he was not recalled last week and placed on the 40-man roster, it was clear his days in the organization were numbered.

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On the mound: LHP Jeff Locke (6-4, 3.75 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (8-11, 4.77 ERA) 

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From today’s PG:

Game story: Pirates beat Cubs 10-4 to complete sweep

Pirates Notebook: Alvarez hits snag in recovery process

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MLB and the Pirates released the 2015 schedule today. The club opens on the road at Cincinnati on Monday, April 6 for three games then heads to Milwaukee before the home opener April 13 against the Detroit Tigers. 

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Lineups

Pirates: 

  1. Starling Marte LF
  2. Travis Snider RF
  3. Andrew McCutchen CF
  4. Neil Walker 2B
  5. Russell Martin C
  6. Ike Davis 1B
  7. Jordy Mercer SS
  8. Brent Morel 3B
  9. Jeff Locke LHP

Phillies:

  1. Ben Revere CF
  2. Jimmy Rollins SS
  3. Chase Utley 2B
  4. Ryan Howard 1B
  5. Marlon Byrd RF
  6. Darin Ruf LF
  7. Carlos Ruiz C
  8. Maikel Franco 3B
  9. Kyle Kendrick RHP

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Housekeeping note: Bill Brink will host a Pirates chat at noon on Tuesday and I will host a Pirates chat at noon on Thursday.