Sep 28, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (right) talks with third base umpire Jim Joyce (left) in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates set the NL Wild Card game roster today.
Pitchers
Edinson Volquez
Vance Worley
Jeff Locke
Mark Melancon
Tony Watson
John Holdzkom
Justin Wilson
Jared Hughes
Bobby LAFromboise
Catchers
Russell Martin
Chris Stewart
Fan favorite Tony Sanchez
Outfielders
Starling Marte
Andrew McCutchen
Travis Snider
Jose Tabata
Gregory Polanco
Andrew Lambo
Infielders
Ike Davis
Gaby Sanchez
Neil Walker
Jordy Mercer
Clint Barmes
Josh Harrison
Brent Morel
Oct 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fans Maria Petreds and Charlie Petredis cheer and wave a flag before entering the gates for the National League wild card baseball playoff game between the Pirates and Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Did you think the Pirates would do anything different for the NL Wild Card Game? No, didn’t think so. Perhaps one sort of, sort of not is that reliever John Axford is not on the roster. No reason for Brent Morel other than, well finding a third baseman is apparently really hard to do. The Bucs have Tabata and Lambo off the bench which is very smart and could be crucial in a possible tight game.
The big question is what condition is Russell Martin’s hamstring in headed into the one game that can send them fishing tomorrow. It’s already a pitching mismatch with Madison Bumgarner going against Edinson Volquez. The home field of PNC Park is wiped out and the game is pick em in Vegas.
So much luck at play in this coin flipper and it’s hard to imagine that Eddie won’t have some bad luck. It just follows him around. The question will be, how much can the right hander that was so damn effective down the stretch, battle through the bad luck?