The schedule-makers certainly did the Pirates and their questionable offense no favors this April by putting the Phillies first on their schedule; the team has to face Cliff Lee after getting virtually no-hit by Roy Halladay and Jonathan Papelbon on Thursday.
Lee’s presence on the mound means that the Pirates will trot out their right-handed lineup today, with Casey McGehee and Matt Hague making their first appearances this year. Both guys crushed the ball in spring training, so hopefully they can give some life to a lineup that was completely lifeless in the Opener. Jeff Karstens takes the mound for the Pirates. The Phillies’ lineup is pretty unimpressive in its current state, so I’m hopeful he can get off on the right foot to start 2012.
The first pitch tonight is at 7:05.
