The first game of the Pirates’ series against the Orioles Tuesday night didn’t go particularly well, with the Bucs losing 8-6. On Wednesday, Kevin Correia looks to get the Bucs turned around.
Correia allowed three runs in five innings in his last start, which came against the Reds. He has a 4.29 ERA in 63 innings so far this year, but his peripheral numbers have run significantly behind that.
Correia’s mound opponent will be Brian Matusz. Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft, has had a disappointing start to his career so far, and his performance so far in 2012 has been part of that. Matusz has struck out 50 batters in 65.1 innings so far, walking 30 and allowing eight homers. Those walk and home run numbers are both too large, so his 4.82 ERA comes as no surprise. Matusz is coming off a poor start against the Red Sox in which he walked five batters and exited after two innings.
UPDATE: Matusz' start has been pushed to Friday, due to a nose bruise. Jake Arrieta will start instead.
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