PITTSBURGH — After two games down, Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco will be making his return to the starting lineup on Wednesday, and he’ll do it facing a familiar foe.
Polanco has 26 career plate appearance against Kyle Hendricks, the Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher on Wednesday, and he’s hit .400/.423/.720 against him in his career. Polanco’s ten hits are the second-most he’s had against any one pitcher in his career.
So it figures to be as soft as possible of a landing for the slumping Polanco, who was given back-to-back days off on Monday and Tuesday after posting a .205/.317/.415 line over the first 52 games of the season.
“We’ll see if he can put a foot down here and get some good at-bats, some competitive at-bats out there again,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
With the time off, Hurdle said he encouraged Polanco to get away from the game a bit, as opposed to pouring himself into his work.
“I just told him to unplug,” Hurdle said. “He knows how to swing. There’s video you can watch to go back and re-visit swing paths. He’s in tune with what he needs to do and he’s aware of the challenges that he’s gone through.”
AROUND THE HORN
Earlier today, I broke down Tyler Glasnow’s adjustments to the bullpen, and how they’ve made him much more likely to stick in that role.
http://18.206.184.11/2018/05/tyler-glasnow-has-been-settling-in-as-a-relief-pitcher.html
My column centered on the Pirates star power, or the lack thereof, as their top talents have yet to produce like it this season.
http://18.206.184.11/2018/05/saunders-pirates-need-stars-to-overcome-adversity.html
Ivan Nova is on the path back to rotation, but it’s going to be a complicated one. More in today’s injury updates.
PIRATES LINEUP
Gm 55: ☠ (28-26) vs.
CUBS LINEUP
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup. #EverybodyIn
Stream on @YouTubeTV: https://t.co/t4Xvcd6DkC pic.twitter.com/D3h9QBnU20
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 30, 2018
CONDITIONS
A shower passed through and wiped-out any on-field pregame work, but the tarp is off the field and there’s some blue peaking through the clouds. It looks like we should be good for an on-time start. Weather.com keeps the odds of precipitation at or below 25 percent until 10 p.m., with a greater chance later in the evening. Game-time temperature is expected to be 80 degrees. Winds are blowing briskly at 12 MPH in from left-center field.
