BRADENTON, Fla. — Jon Niese and David Price combined to allow three runs and six hits in a 30-minute first inning. After that, Niese settled in nicely and put only one man on base in his final three innings of work.
“As the game went on he got better,” manager Clint Hurdle said. ”I thought his sequences improved.”
In four innings, Niese allowed two runs and five hits, striking out five without walking a batter.
“I think it’s just him working through making the next good pitch,” Hurdle said. “He’s so highly competitive, it’s just fun to watch him out there.”
Niese left the stadium without speaking to reporters.
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Your opening series probables:
Sunday: RHP Adam Wainwright vs. LHP Francisco Liriano
Tuesday: RHP Michael Wacha vs. LHP Jon Niese
Wednesday: RHP Mike Leake vs. RHP Juan Nicasio
Read more about the Nicasio decision here.
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Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 4 with a homer and a double Wednesday. ... Gregory Polanco went 2 for 3. ... Jason Rogers went 1 for 1 with four walks.
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Kyle Lobstein will start Thursday’s game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Ryan Vogelsong, Mark Melancon, Tony Watson and Neftali Feliz are also scheduled to pitch.
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Three candidates for the final bullpen spot, Cory Luebke, A.J. Schugel and Jim Fuller, pitched Wednesday. Luebke and Schugel each allowed a run and a hit in two innings. Fuller pitched a scoreless inning.
Hurdle indicated that the Pirates must make a decision on Luebke’s opt-out by today. He and Fuller are lefty, as is Lobstein, who is still a candidate for the bullpen; Schugel and Jorge Rondon are righty.
“I haven’t been told anything,” Schugel said. “Taking it one day at a time, see what happens.”
Fuller has allowed one run in 91/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and no walks. Luebke has given up six runs, five earned, and nine hits in 72/3 innings. Schugel has allowed four runs, three earned, and 10 hits in 12 innings; Rondon, four runs and nine hits in 11 innings; and Lobstein two runs and seven hits in 11 innings, including three starts.
“Other than a couple pitches that I would take back, I felt really good,” Schugel said. “I felt everything overall pitching-wise, mechanics-wise, was sound, better than springs past.”
The Pirates have to make a decision on Luebke by today, Hurdle said. Luebke has an opt-out clause.
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Nicasio will pitch in a minor league game or simulated game Friday in Florida. Gerrit Cole will do the same Saturday. They will then fly to Pittsburgh and join the team for opening day. They will set the rotation for the Reds series after Cole and Nicasio pitch.
First Published: March 30, 2016, 10:13 p.m.
