Game time: 2:15PM ET
Probable starters:
PIT: Jonathon Niese (6-6, 5.07 ERA)
STL: Carlos Martinez (7-5, 2.83 ERA)
The Pirates trail the Cardinals in both the National League Central and NL Wild Card standings, but a sweep of the four-game series from Pittsburgh would allow the teams to swap positions.
The Cardinals have won the season series in each of the past two years. The Pirates, who have won four in a row and seven of their last nine, took two of three during the only series in St. Louis so far this season and are scoring an average of 4.6 runs in their victories over the Cardinals.
They will potentially need every one behind starter Jonathon Niese, who has allowed 22 runs in 21 innings with a 9.43 ERA over his last four starts. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up eight runs on 11 hits in his last appearance against St. Louis on June 12 in a loss. Niese is 1-1 lifetime at Busch Stadium with a 2.14 ERA in three starts.
Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was limited due to recent high pitch counts in his last start, but he had one of his best outings of the season in his last appearance against Pittsburgh. He went 8 1/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits on June 11. The victim of poor bullpen performances, Martinez has three consecutive no-decisions to his name, but he has permitted just one run on 16 hits in his last 20 innings with a 0.45 ERA. He is 3-4 with a 4.02 career ERA against the Pirates.
Things to know about this game
• The Cardinals and Pirates are both 4-1 in their last five games on Independence Day.
• Martinez hopes to start July the same way he ended June. His 1.31 ERA led all NL pitchers last month and was second in the Major Leagues.
• Starling Marte (10-for-19) and Gregory Polanco (9-for-16) have both hit Martinez well.
• The Pirates are expected to activate catcher Eric Fryer, claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Sunday, before the series opener. To do so, they'll have to clear a spot on their active roster, either by parting with veteran Erik Kratz or placing Chris Stewart on the 15-day disabled list to heal his nagging left leg injuries.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201607031 ... _pk=448113
My note: Can you just fucking go six innings, Niese? Is it too much to ask?
BEAT 'EM BUCS!!!
