Pittsburgh Pirates

2004 Record: 72-89 (.447)
2004 Pythagorean Record: 74-87 (.460)

Manager: Lloyd McClendon
General Manager: Dave Littlefield

Ballpark (2004 park factors): PNC Park (96/96)

Who's replacing whom?

Matt Lawton replaces Jason Kendall
Humberto Cota takes playing time from Daryle Ward (or Craig Wilson due to injury)
Freddy Sanchez inherits Abraham O. Nunez's playing time
Michael Restovich inherits Randall Simon's playing time
Dave Ross inherits Chris Stynes playing time
Ryan Doumit inherits Ty Wigginton's playing time
Mark Redman replaces Kris Benson and Sean Burnett
Dave Williams and Ryan Vogelsong switch roles
Rick White replaces Mark Corey, Brian Boehringer and other random relievers

Current Roster:

1B – Daryle Ward
2B – Jose Castillo
SS – Jack Wilson
3B – Rob Mackowiak
C – Humberto Cota
RF – Matt Lawton
CF – Tike Redman
LF – Jason Bay

Bench:

R - Freddy Sanchez (IF)
S – Bobby Hill (IF)
R - Dave Ross (C)
L - Michael Restovich (OF)
S - Ryan Doumit (C/OF)

Rotation:

R – Kip Wells
L – Mark Redman
L – Oliver Perez
R – Josh Fogg
L – Dave Williams

Bullpen:

R – Jose Mesa
L – Mike Gonazalez
R – Salomon Torres
R - Rick White
R – Brian Meadows
L – John Grabow
R – Ryan Vogelsong

DL:

R - Craig A. Wilson (OF/1B)
L – Sean Burnett (60-day)
R – John Van Benschoten (60-day)

Typical Line-up

L – Matt Lawton (RF)
L – Tike Redman (CF)
R – Jason Bay (LF)
L - Rob Mackowiak (3B)
L - Daryle Ward (1B)
R – Jose Castillo (2B)
R - Humberto Cota (C)
R – Jack Wilson (SS)

Entering a three game series with the Yankees tonight, the Pirates have a .492 actual and .519 Pythagorean winning percentage, both of which are better than the Yankees' marks (.484 and .505 respectively). The Pirates are currently three games ahead of the Brewers in third place in the NL Central (the Yankees are still languishing a game behind the Blue Jays in fourth in the AL East).

Last week, when the Yankees began a three-game series in Milwaukee, the Brewers had a .464 winning percentage, but a .549 Pythagorean winning percentage. The Brewers then proceeded to take the first two games of that series before losing the third 12-3. Since then Milwaukee has lost four more, for a five-game losing streak that's dropped them to a .444 actual and .509 Pythagorean winning percentage. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 7-4 in June, having won their last four series (against the Devil Rays, Orioles, Braves and Marlins), this on top of a winning record in May (15-13).

So much for Milwaukee and Pittsburgh providing the Yankees with an opportunity to pad their record. More on how the Pirates have been winning (tonight's starter, Kip Wells, has been a big part of it) later.