Desert Rat
Veteran
Despite a 7-3 road trip, the D-backs made no progress in cushioning their lead in the NL West. The road-weary Snakes come home for a week of home-cooking against east coast teams with inferior records. The Pirates last three road games were a sweep of the Astros. These teams split a four-game series in Pittsburgh in June, with the D-backs scoring just 14 runs in that extended weekend. The Bucs get the pleasure of facing Arizona's three best starters this week...
Monday - Herrera vs. Haren
The best Yoslan in baseball will make his fifth career start. The Cuban rookie was pounded in his first two starts, but quickly improved in his last two, to bring his ERA DOWN to 9.00. His hits allowed per inning is 1.82, but just 1.00 in his last two games. Herrera is an fairly unknown commodity here. Haren, what more can you say? Three straight wins, going for his 12th of the sesaon on Monday night. His last game was his worst of the summer, but he survived the rocky first inning and the leg cramp running the bases to get his July ERA to a miniscule 1.95.
Tuesday - Duke vs. Webb
Duke was puke recently, dropping his last five decisions. Five, that's the lowest number of runs he has allowed in his last of his last, you guessed it, five games. The once-promising lefty's last win was almost two months ago against the D-backs, where his team took advantage of three Arizona errors. Webb will try to get his ERA back under 3.00 . He won his last two games, but has not won a home game in 2008's summer months. Webb is 4-0 lifetime against Pittsburgh in five starts.
Wednesday - Karstens vs. Johnson
Set your alarm clocks, an early Wednesday afternoon game awaits. Karstens, fresh off the trade with the Yankees at the deadline, threw six shutout innings in his first Pirate start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but walked four and allowed five hits. Still, he is a promising member of the Bucs' rotation and will go against another ex-Yankee on Wednesday. Randy Johnson is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now, winning his last five and not allowing an earned run in his last 21 innings. Johnson lost to the Pirates back in June, but will be gunning for revenge and career win #294 this week.
Monday - Herrera vs. Haren
The best Yoslan in baseball will make his fifth career start. The Cuban rookie was pounded in his first two starts, but quickly improved in his last two, to bring his ERA DOWN to 9.00. His hits allowed per inning is 1.82, but just 1.00 in his last two games. Herrera is an fairly unknown commodity here. Haren, what more can you say? Three straight wins, going for his 12th of the sesaon on Monday night. His last game was his worst of the summer, but he survived the rocky first inning and the leg cramp running the bases to get his July ERA to a miniscule 1.95.
Tuesday - Duke vs. Webb
Duke was puke recently, dropping his last five decisions. Five, that's the lowest number of runs he has allowed in his last of his last, you guessed it, five games. The once-promising lefty's last win was almost two months ago against the D-backs, where his team took advantage of three Arizona errors. Webb will try to get his ERA back under 3.00 . He won his last two games, but has not won a home game in 2008's summer months. Webb is 4-0 lifetime against Pittsburgh in five starts.
Wednesday - Karstens vs. Johnson
Set your alarm clocks, an early Wednesday afternoon game awaits. Karstens, fresh off the trade with the Yankees at the deadline, threw six shutout innings in his first Pirate start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but walked four and allowed five hits. Still, he is a promising member of the Bucs' rotation and will go against another ex-Yankee on Wednesday. Randy Johnson is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now, winning his last five and not allowing an earned run in his last 21 innings. Johnson lost to the Pirates back in June, but will be gunning for revenge and career win #294 this week.
