clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

A.J. Burnett, Pirates take on Phillies

USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Burnett starts for the Bucs against the Phillies today, with Wandy Rodriguez, Kris Johnson, Vic Black, Duke Welker and Hunter Strickland also taking turns. Here's the lineup:

Starling Marte LF
Alex Presley CF
Travis Snider RF
Gaby Sanchez 1B
Russell Martin DH
Michael McKenry C
Jared Goedert 3B
Jordy Mercer 2B
Chase D'Arnaud SS

-P- Minor-league camp has begun.

-P- These sentences, about why Brooks Brown is supposedly moving to the top of the Pirates' list of bullpen options, are incredible to me:

Brooks Brown was not one of them. But the 27-year-old right-hander may be forcing himself not only into the line, but to the head of it. He added to his impressive spring on Sunday by working a perfect ninth to save the Bucs' 8-6 victory over the Astros.

Yes, Brown worked "a perfect ninth" ... after allowing a run in the eighth. Why would a writer fail to mention that? It's baffling. Anyway, I'll go out on a limb and say Brooks Brown isn't anywhere near the top of the Pirates' list of bullpen candidates. He struck out 81 batters and walked 58 for Triple-A Toledo last year, which counts for much more than 4.2 spring training innings does.