Wandy Rodriguez Set To Go Against Cubs, Hopes For Another Good Start To Season

August 29, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez (51) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Historically, Wandy Rodriguez has had some extended success in the month of April as a pitcher. Over the course of his career, Rodriguez has posted a 2.95 ERA in the month of April, over eight years. Wandy posted a 3.72 ERA as a Pirate last year, with 6.0 K/9. Wandy has pretty decent numbers against the current Cubs team, holding batters to a .245 average across the board of all the players who are currently on the Cubs roster (including holding Alfonso Soriano to a pathetic .122 batting average head to head). His ERA against the Cubs last year came in at 2.25, his best against any team, except for the Pirates and Cardinals. Whether or not Wandy’s time in the World Baseball Classic will do anything to his string of good starts has yet to be seen, but we will find out over the next few weeks.

August 24, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez (51) reacts in the dugout against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Milwaukee Brewers won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

For the Pirates to get their first win of the season, and hold the bridge jumpers back one more night, there isn’t anything special that has to happen, just solid team defense, hitting, and pitching. If the Pirates can give Wandy about 3 or 4 runs ( which could be hard, with how slow this team typically starts offensively), the Pirates should be able to pull the game out. If history has any bearing on the game tonight, expect Wandy to come out dealing, and let’s hope that the bats pick him up and propel the Pirates to a win. None of these things are what you’d be able to call givens, but things should be able to go pretty well tonight for the Bucs. Let’s just hope we get an opportunity to hear Jason Grilli’s super secret Pearl Jam walk up music finally.