Pirates Brad Lincoln Looks to Snap Marlins Streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates turn to Brad Lincoln tonight in Miami to push their winning streak to three games–something the team hasn’t been able to do this season.

Lincoln won’t have an easy time of it as the Marlins have won 10 of their last 12 and are starting to hit the ball very well. The Marlins have also won eight straight against the Bucs, making it look very easy in the six victories that came last season.

Lincoln has pitched in seven games this year, all of them coming in a relief role. He has a 10.05K/9IP, but a 3.77BB/9.Three walks of his six walks on the year came in his first outing against Arizona. He has combated the walks and inherited runners with a left-on-base percentage of over 95 percent.

The most recent time the Pirates right hander was on the mound was five days ago when Erik Bedard went down with back spasms. He pitched three innings of one-hit ball stepping in for Bedard. So it’s safe to assume Lincoln will be on a pitch count in Miami tonight.   If Hot Rod can give the Bucs four innings, we would call it a moral victory.

The hottest Marlin is Giancarlo Stanton.  In his last 15 games, he has hit seven bombs. Gulp.

The Marlins will send a pitcher to the mound that we enjoy watching pitch.  Unfortunately most of the love for Anibal Sanchez comes from watching him dismantle the Bucs.  The Venezuelan-born  right-hander has a 1.64 ERA in three starts against the Buccos. Last September he fired a one-hitter at Pittsburgh and struckout eleven.

It doesn’t look pretty for the Bucs tonight.