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Game 2: Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston Red Sox
By Marty Leap
The 2017 Pittsburgh Baseball Club plays game 2 at 7:05 PM tonight
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox will play game two of their season-opening three game series at Fenway Park tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
In game one of the series, the Pirates lost to the Red Sox by a score of 5-3. In this game, the Pirates were sunk by a disastrous fifth inning. Their loss, however, was not due to the shift. Despite what one former beat writer would like you to think.
If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can read more about the Pirates’ Opening Day loss here.
Jameson Taillon will make his 2017 debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight. In his 2016 rookie campaign, Taillon pitched 104 innings in 18 starts. In these 104 innings he pitched he averaged 7.36 K/9, 1.47 BB/9, and 1/13 HR/9.
All of this led to Taillon posting a 3.38 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and a 3.43 xFIP in 2016. He finished the season with a 1.7 WAR.
For the Red Sox, left-handed pitcher Chris Sale will make his team debut. Sale is one of the best left-handed pitchers in all of Major Leauge Baseball, and, due to this, the Pirate lineup will have their hands full tonight.
In 226 2/3 innings pitched for the White Sox last season Chris Sale averaged 9.25 K/9, 1.79 BB/9, and 1.07 HR/9. He owned a 3.34 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 3.58 xFIP, and a 5.2 WAR.
2016 was the worst season of Chris Sale’s Major League career. Prior to 2016 he never posted an FIP over 3.27 or an xFIP over 3.24. That just goes to show how good Sale is.
Next: In Depth Game Notes From Game 1
It will be interesting to see the lineup Clint Hurdle fields tonight. In game one, Adam Frazier played in left field and hit leadoff while Gregory Polanco served as the team’s designated hitter.
Odds are, Polanco will remain the DH due to his sore shoulder. However, there is no guarantee Frazier is in left field again. This is due to Frazier being a left-handed hitter. If Frazier starts, though, he will bat leadoff once again.
Once again, first pitch is at 7:05 PM tonight. It will be telecast on ROOT Spots, and can be heard on the Pirates’ Radio Network. Also, you can follow along with Rum Bunter on Twitter during tonight’s game.