Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 11, Philadelphia 7
After exploding for their most runs in nearly two years, the Pittsburgh Pirates will look to salvage a split of their four-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday afternoon. Michael McKenry homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs and Andrew McCutchen also went deep as Pittsburgh spoiled Chase Utley's season debut with an 11-7 triumph. A five-time All-Star, Utley homered in the first inning and went 3-for-5 in his return from a chronic knee injury.
In what was admittedly a "bullpen game," the Phillies exhausted their relievers - thus putting Thursday starter Kyle Kendrick in a precarious situation. Kendrick will need to pitch well into the contest in order to preserve Charlie Manuels' taxed bullpen, which saw everyone but Jonathan Papelbon take the mound on Wednesday. Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing skid with Wednesday's triumph, while Philadelphia saw its modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (8-2, 3.24 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (2-7, 5.24)
Burnett has been downright dominant en route to winning his last seven starts. The tattooed hurler scattered two hits over six scoreless innings in a 4-1 win over Detroit on Friday. Burnett hasn't enjoyed as much success when facing the Phillies, posting a 5-9 career mark with a 5.13 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
Kendrick, who is mired in a three-game losing skid, settled for a no-decision after lasting just four innings in his last start versus Tampa Bay on Saturday. The 27-year-old yielded only three runs - a marked improvement from the 17 he allowed during his losing stretch. Kendrick is 4-1 with a solid 1.10 WHIP versus Pittsburgh and recorded a hold despite permitting a run in an April 8 outing against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies slugger Ryan Howard will begin a rehab stint on Thursday with Class-A Lakewood. Howard has been sidelined since Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series after tearing his left Achilles' tendon.
2. With starter Rod Barajas injured, McKenry is 5-for-6 with two homers and six RBIs in his last two games. He has yet to face Kendrick in his career.
3. McCutchen put the game away with a two-run homer on Wednesday, but is just 3-for-10 in his career versus Kendrick.