NewsBucs trying to light fire under top of lineup
Pittsburgh (54-82) vs. Chicago (69-67), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
09/07/09 3:59 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- It's not been the best of stretches for the top of the Pirates' order, which, before the team's last 10 games, had been a consistently productive duo for the club. Heading into Tuesday's contest against the Cubs, Pittsburgh hitters in those top two spots have combined to go 10-for-80 since Aug. 29. Maybe it's no coincidence then that the Pirates have lost nine of those 10 games. During this stretch, leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen seems to have hit the most prolonged slump of his early young career. After an 0-for-3 day on Monday, McCutchen has just six hits in his last 38 at-bats. His batting average has dropped 16 points since it sat at .295 10 days ago. Delwyn Young, too, has been scuffling of late. Hitting mostly in the No. 2 spot in the order, Young has gone 2-for-33 in this recent stretch. The second baseman was moved down to hit sixth on Monday, though as manager John Russell explained, that move had more to do with the lineup's makeup than it did Young's recent skid. "We were trying to get some more right-handed bats at the top of the lineup," Russell explained. With right-hander Ryan Dempster taking the mound for the Cubs on Tuesday, Young will likely be back in the second spot in the order, which is where he has hit in 17 of his previous 18 starts before Monday. The Pirates' clubhouse is also expected to get a little more crowded on Tuesday. With Triple-A Indianapolis ending its season on Monday, the Pirates are expected to call up both utility player Brian Bixler and catcher Robinzon Diaz. Diaz obviously provides the Pirates with an emergency third catcher and will allow Russell to use Ryan Doumit as a pinch-hitter in games where backup Jason Jaramillo starts. With only two catchers all season, that has not been an option for Russell. Bixler isn't likely to get much playing time but will be a versatile option should Russell need to make a defensive change late. Bixler has spent the last few months rotating from short to second to center to improve his defensive skills. He also made his first professional start at third base on Sunday. Left-hander Donnie Veal is also expected to be available out of the bullpen again on Tuesday. Veal, who has spent the last month on the disabled list with a sprained left index finger, has wrapped up his Minor League rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. Pitching matchupPIT: LHP Zach Duke (10-13, 3.71 ERA)
Duke looked as if he was in line for a win entering the sixth inning with a 3-2 lead on Wednesday against the Reds, but fielding woes and a home run by Drew Stubbs turned that chance at a win into a loss. Duke pitched six innings and gave up five runs, three of which were earned, in a 5-3 loss. He has lost three of his past four decisions. CHC: RHP Ryan Dempster (8-8, 3.96 ERA)
Dempster was a hard-luck loser in his last start, on Thursday against the White Sox. For the second time this season, all three runs he gave up in a game were unearned, although he also allowed nine hits. Dempster did pitch seven innings, his seventh consecutive outing in which he lasted at least six frames. In his one start against the Pirates this season, Dempster was roughed up for six earned runs in four innings, although five of Pittsburgh's starting position players in that game have since been traded. Bucs bits
The Pirates have five walk-off hits this season, including two each from rookies McCutchen and Garrett Jones. According to Elias Sports Bureau, no other team has more walk-off hits by rookies than Pittsburgh. Cincinnati is second with three such hits. ... The Pirates will honor golfer and Western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer with an 80th birthday celebration that is scheduled to begin about 15 minutes before Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. ET game. All fans in attendance on Tuesday will receive a bobblehead in Palmer's likeness. ... Former Pirates pitchers Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow are both available out of the Cubs' bullpen during this series. The two left-handers were traded to Chicago on July 30. Grabow pitched a scoreless inning of relief on Monday. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Pirates (Kevin Hart, 4-5, 4.67) vs. Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 7-6, 3.80), 12:35 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Pirates (Charlie Morton, 3-7, 5.43) at Astros (Bud Norris, 4-3, 6.05), 8:05 p.m. ET
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
