PITTSBURGH — For the second straight day, the Pirates will welcome a left-hander into PNC Park, as they’ll face Chicago’s Brett Anderson in the first of a three-game series with the defending World Champions, the Chicago Cubs.
The Pirates also faced left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Saturday against the New York Yankees, and have also faced Brandon Finnegan, Amir Garrett, Jon Lester, Eduardo Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia and Chris Sale in the first few weeks of the season.
That’s put some increased emphasis on the team’s performance against left-handers, as I wrote about regarding Gregory Polanco on Sunday. It’s also put into the spotlight the players that Clint Hurdle feel can be useful options against left-handers.
In addition to Polanco being in the lineup and not moving down from the cleanup spot, Hurdle has given Josh Bell more opportunities to hit from the right side of the plate.
“We didn’t just want to give him one side of the plate to swing off of,” Hurdle said. “We kind of picked up early on that their might be some noise from the left side off the mound against us this year. We’re giving him a chance to get out there and see some of it. He hasn’t seen all of them, but he’s seen a lot of them. He’s making better passes at it.”
Bell is hitting in the No. 8 spot Monday against the Cubs, which Hurdle admitted is not ideal for a young power hitter.
“I don’t know how much sense it makes, but sometimes, that’s how those things work,” Hurdle said. “I don’t like it, but I didn’t have him hitting in front of everyone else from the right side.”
That’s one of the reasons the Pirates have a a .207 batting average as a team against lefties — they don’t have a lot of better options. Outside of the team’s regulars, there doesn’t seem to be an bench option that can take advantage of left-handed pitching.
One of the few that has the potential to do so is Jose Osuna, who had a .952 OPS against lefties with Triple-A Indianapolis last year. That’s why Osuna will be making his second consecutive start in right field, even after going 0-for-4 on Sunday.
“Based on what we saw in Spring Training and based on the other options we have on the club, we thought we were best served running him out there and seeing what he could do against left-handed pitching,” Hurdle said.
STARTING LINEUP
Game 19: #Pirates (8-10) vs #Cubs
FRAZIER OUT
Osuna has played the last two games in right at the expense of Jaso, which isn’t surprising, given his career numbers, but also instead of Adam Frazier. Frazier is 3-for-10 against lefties this season and did pretty well last season, as well, but he was placed on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury prior to Monday’s game.
Clint Hurdle had this to say in the clubhouse before the DL move was announced:
“His numbers speak for themselves against left-handed pitching,” Hurdle said. “When he’s been a good place to go or play, he’s played against a lot of left-handers. Sometimes, more will be revealed and there will be a better understanding as time plays out.”
ADDED RELIEF
The Pirates have essentially been pitching with six bullpen arms while attempting to work with Antonio Bastardo, who has allowed 11 earned runs in 5 2/3 inning while dealing with a lack of feel for his fastball.
Recalling Neverauskas gives the Pirates an extra bullpen arm to work with while helping to lessen the burden on Felipe Rivero (12 appearances), Daniel Hudson and Tony Watson (21 and 27 pitches on Sunday).
