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Bedard Hasn’t Been as Sharp Since Back Spasms, But is Healthy

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Since left-hander Erik Bedard exited his outing on the 9th of May with back spasms, he hasn’t been as sharp. Over his last two starts, Bedard has allowed four runs in each of those outings. Prior to the injury, Bedard hadn’t allowed more than two earned runs over his previous six starts.

Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said that his delivery is still the same and that’s he’s healthy.

“We isolated some tape right after just to double check,” Hurdle said. “He hasn’t back away from anything. He went through the rehab time where he followed the doctors orders, the training staffs orders, and now he’s just doing core work like they’ve suggested. From that standpoint, no other precautionary measures.”

Bedard has been throwing his changeup more this season then he has in the past. Hurdle said, perhaps to give him a new look in a different league. Bedard will look to bounce back from his 5.29 ERA in May. The lefty posted a 2.48 ERA over five starts in April.

“I think his curveball is his go-to spin pitch,” Hurdle said. “The curveball has been a good command pitch for him when he throws it behind in counts. He throws it for strikes, for put always. It gives a different look for him. He’s also used his changeup extremely well. His last two outings haven’t been what we saw from the previous five or six. We’ll look for Erik to hopefully right himself a little bit better with a little bit more consistency. The big inning got in his way his last time out. But then he put up zeros to follow. I’m looking forward to seeing him pitch today and going out there and competing.”

 

  • The Pirates sent a stat out late last night that didn’t make it into the game notebook.

The last time the Pirates had a walk-off win that came on a hit by pitch was on April 15, 1997 against the San Diego Padres. Tony Womack was hit by a pitch to win the game for Pittsburgh. Unlike with rookie Matt Hague, Womack was hit in the face, not his side in the walk off win. Last night’s walkff win of the season was the fifth of the year and the 65th in the history at PNC Park (since 2001).

  • If the Pirates can get the W this afternoon, it will be not only their first three-game sweep of the season, but the first three-game sweep at PNC Park since September 17-19, 2010 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Pirates lineup: Jose Tabata 7, Josh Harrison 6, Andrew McCutchen 8, Pedro Alvarez 5, Neil Walker 4, Garrett Jones 9, Matt Hague 3, Michael McKenry 2, Erik Bedard 1
  • Cubs lineup: David DeJesus 9, Starlin Castro 6, Joe Mather 5, Alfonso Soriano 7, Jeff Baker 3, Reed Johnson 8, Darwin Barney 4, Koyie Hill 2, Matt Garza 1

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