The first of three game mini-series will go underway this Friday between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 PM ET at PNC Park, when the young stud Michael Wacha faces Francisco Liriano.
The first of three game mini-series will go underway this Friday between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 PM ET at PNC Park, when the young stud Michael Wacha faces Francisco Liriano.
Wacha was a good surprised in the Cardinal’s route to the World Series last season, but he needs to show it wasn’t luck. He has a 2-3 this season with a 2.55 ERA but is 0-3 in his last four starts with a 3.09 ERA. Last Saturday, he gave a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in the 3-0 road loss.
“It’s just frustrating, really,” Wacha said. “I was pitching well and if I was able to get out of a jam there. … But I served one up there and they go up two runs. You just can’t afford that in that situation.”
Liriano doesn’t have a lot to be happy either as he has gone 10 regulars season games without recording a victory on his resume. He’s 0-3 this season with a 4.54 ERA.
“I was trying to throw my sinker down and away and just missed my spots,” Liriano said after giving five runs — four earned — six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays on his last outing.
Wacha is listed -125 in the MLB money line, and Liriano is +115. The runs total is at 7.