Pittsburgh Pirates: Francisco Liriano Tabbed To Start Spring Training Opener
By Matt Shetler
Feb 15, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano walks on the field during spring training at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Already getting the nod to take the ball on Opening Day, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Francisco Liriano will also do the honors for the team when they kick off their Grapefruit League schedule.
Liriano is scheduled to pitch the first inning against the New York Yankees Wednesday at McKechnie Field. Also set to pitch are Edinson Volquez, Jeanmar Gomez, Vin Mazzaro, Bryan Morris, Jared Hughes, Duke Welker, Josh Kinney and Adam Wilk.
Thursday, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke are scheduled to go two innings apiece against the Yankees in Tampa. Brandon Cumpton (two innings), Yao-Hsum Yang, Daniel Schlereth and Cody Eppley (one apiece) also will pitch.
Gerrit Cole will work the first two innings Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, while Wandy Rodriguez will pitch two innings Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The rest of the pitchers who will work Friday and Saturday had not yet been determined as of Monday morning.
In other spring training pitching news, former Pirates’ right hander A.J. Burnett is scheduled to make his debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
Against whom? You guessed it.
Burnett will get to face his former teammates as he will get the start on Sunday. Former Pirate Brad Lincoln is also scheduled to pitch in that game for the Phillies.