Tonight, the Pirates play the Padres from Pittsburgh in the final game of this series tonight. Whoever wins takes the series win.

Pitching Match-Up

Pirates
John Van Benschoten
(1-2) 8.27 ERA with 19 K’s this season

Padres
Josh Banks
(2-4) 3.51 ERA with 29 K’s this season

Low-Down
If you ask me who the one starting pitcher in the Pirates line-up I would replace would be, I would say Van Benschoten. He really is not of Major league talent, and all he does is raise his ERA. I doubt he last more than 3 innings.

Key Factor
Tonight’s key factor will be the Pirates offense scoring fast and often. I don’t trust Van Benschoten on the mound, so the Buccos need to score quickly. Adam LaRoche had his first multi-home-run game last night with his 13th and 14th homers. He will be one of the guys to get us out of holes if we fall into them. Losing Xavier Nady, a.k.a. the Un-Tier, to the Yanks will hurt our offensive production in the long haul, but at least we got a decent pitcher in return that can maybe take over for Van Benschoten.

Prediction
Pirates- 9, Padres- 5
I wouldn’t doubt 80% of the runs that San Diego scores tonight come off Johnny V, but at least our bullpen has some good relievers. I think the offense will dominate and bring home a “W”. 9-5 Buccos.

-Mike Greenspire

Tonight the Pirates play the Rockies in the 3rd game of this 4-game series from Denver.

Here is tonight's scheduled pitching match-up.

Pirates
Zach Duke
(4-6) 4.40 ERA, 44 K's this season

Rockies
Aaron Cook
(11-6) 3.57 ERA, 67 K's this season

Low-Down
Zach Duke is a good young pitcher, but has trouble against proven pitchers liek that of Aaron Cook. He needs to figure out the offense of Colorado quickly if he hopes to win, because by the 4th inning, this game could be blown wide open by the Rockies.

Key Factor
Tonight's key factor will be how well of a 1st and 2nd inning Duke pitches. If he can give up only 2 or 3 hits in the first two, and not allow any runs, than the Pirates have a chance to take control of the game.

Prediction
The Pirates are too sloppy in this seris for me to favor them tonight, so I think the Rockies win the game, 6-2. Although, since I'm going against my team in this one, they'll probably win. I still pick the Rockies.

-Mike Greenspire