Game time: 8:15PM ET
Probable starters:
PIT: Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 4.91 ERA)
MIL: Carlos Martinez (15-9, 3.15 ERA)
The Pirates have been eliminated from the playoffs after three straight trips to the National League Wild Card Game (2013-15), but they still have plenty to play for as they try to keep the Cardinals out of the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The eyes of the crowd will certainly be affixed to the Mets and Giants games on the out-of-town scoreboard in right field when the Pirates and Cardinals start their final three games of the regular season on Friday night at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals are 7-9 against the Pirates this season, with a 2-5 mark in St. Louis. They carry the weight of a potential postseason berth after taking two of three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh in early September.
The Cardinals will send their hottest pitcher of 2016 to the mound, Carlos Martinez. Martinez has lost two of three starts against the Pirates this season, with a 2.41 ERA against them over 18 2/3 innings. He has a 3.60 ERA over five starts in September, with opponents batting .297 against him and 12 runs allowed. The Cardinals have won six of his last eight starts, with both losses coming against the Cubs.
Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Pirates after making his Major League debut at Busch Stadium on July 7, during which he went 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs on three hits. He made one more start before he was placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his right shoulder and returned on Sept. 11 in relief. Glasnow started again in his most recent outing, against the Nationals, and pitched three innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits.
The Pirates are perhaps facing Martinez at just the right time. Martinez's ERA in September is his highest since May, and his ERA at Busch Stadium is 1.42 points higher than on the road in an equal amount of home and road starts. He has also allowed 14 more runs at home than on the road. The Pirates, however, have dropped four of six games in which Glasnow has appeared.
Three things to know about his game
• Martinez is averaging five runs of support per start, the highest among Cardinals starters.
• Cardinals first baseman and right fielder Brandon Moss is six for his last 88. He was held out of the lineup on Thursday as manager Mike Matheny gives him a chance to clear his mind.
• The Cardinals lead the NL in home runs and have hit 20 against the Pirates this season. Seven of those came during the last series between the two teams, including five in one game on Sept. 6.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201609302 ... _pk=449264
BEAT 'EM BUCS!!!
after that I don't give a shit..
