Happy Mother's Day!
Pirates look to win the series this afternoon versus St. Louis.
Probable starters: Tyler Lyons (0-0, 6.23 ERA) vs. Jeff Locke (2-2, 4.85 ERA)
Game preview:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...1&mode=preview
"Lefties take center stage as Bucs, Cards wrap up series
By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 5/9/2015 10:11 PM ET
The Pirates and Cardinals wrap up their three-game series at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon, sending left-handers Jeff Locke and Tyler Lyons to the mound.
Locke, 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals, battled through two tough innings in his most recent start, a loss to the Reds on Tuesday, but settled in and wound up pitching seven innings.
Lyons, meanwhile, is making his second spot start for St. Louis. He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out seven batters in 4 1/3 innings against the Cubs on Tuesday.
Lyons won his first two Major League starts back in May 2013 but hasn't picked up a victory in the bigs since.
Three things to know about this game:
• The Cardinals didn't make a roster move before Saturday night's game, leaving them with only three bench players while Matt Carpenter is away after being diagnosed with extreme fatigue.
Carpenter is expected to rejoin the team in Cleveland on Tuesday, so St. Louis should only have to make it through Sunday's series finale before the roster is at full strength.
• Pittsburgh infielder Jung Ho Kang appears to be in the middle of one of his "bundles" of at-bats, as he entered Friday's game in a double switch, started at third base on Saturday and should be back in the lineup again on Sunday. Kang would either spot Josh Harrison at third base, as he did on Saturday, or Jordy Mercer at shortstop.
• The Cardinals begin Sunday with a 17-6 record against National League Central teams; the Pirates are just 10-14 in divisional play.
Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs."
maybe we can do this one without the traditional mothers day clearing of the benches
