LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Pirates are undecided on a starter for Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jace-sternberger-jersey , and volunteers might be hard to come by.
The Dodgers’ offense is coming off a productive June when they hit 55 home runs, most in a calendar month in franchise history. And at the start of July, they look even better.
First the Dodgers crushed the Pirates on Monday to the tune of 17 runs and 21 hits. On Tuesday it was six home runs, including back-to-back homers from Joc Pederson and Max Muncy to lead off the game. Muncy went deep twice and has 20 on the season.
So with scheduled starter Joe Musgrove headed to the disabled list with a finger infection, the Pirates must send somebody else to the wolves.
Right-hander Clay Holmes (0-0, 2.25 ERA) is expected to make his first start of the season for Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He has pitched in two games for the Pirates this season, and he threw two hitless, scoreless innings in his most recent appearance June 24 against Arizona. He has never faced the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ Rich Hill (1-3, 4.68) will make his fourth start since coming off the disabled list because of a blister on the middle finger of his left hand.
On Friday, Hill faced the Colorado Rockies and gave up one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. He threw 110 pitches in that game, validating the series of laser treatments he received while out of action.
“I was really pleased with the consistency of the flight of the ball,” Hill said after his last outing, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The way the curveball came out of my hand, the consistency of that. Everything really came together tonight.”
Hill is 3-2 lifetime against the Pirates with a 3.25 ERA over nine starts, although he is a far different pitcher than the first time he squared off against them in 2006.
Holmes faces a major challenge against the Dodgers’ potent offense. When Matt Kemp went 5-for-5 with a homer on Monday Dexter Williams Jersey , it gave him a hit in eight consecutive at-bats.
Also homering for the Dodgers on Tuesday were Yasmani Grandal, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers’ run-scoring onslaught has left the Pirates reeling. Not only did the Pirates’ bullpen absorb five innings Monday, it was called on for three more innings Tuesday. Tuesday’s starter, Ivan Nova, allowed seven runs on nine hits in his five-plus innings.
“We’ve been a little short on the front end of things, which has provided some complications on the bullpen,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said, according to mlb.com.
The Dodgers will see their 10-game homestand come to an end Wednesday, but their Southern California stay is just beginning. Next up is a “road trip” to Anaheim and San Diego, before three more home games to close out the first half.
The Pirates are 2-3 on their six-game tour of Southern California, having faced the San Diego Padres before arriving in Los Angeles. They are 4-4 on their nine-game road trip, which also included a stop in New York to face the Mets.
The final weekend of the regular season is here and every NFL team will be in action on the same day for the only time all season. All 32 teams involved in those games submitted their final injury reports of the week on Friday.Questionable players are uncertain to play, doubtful players are unlikely to play and out should be self-explanatory. Players who are on active rosters and don’t appear below should be considered healthy enough to play barring any announcements on Saturday.With that housekeeping out of the way, here are all the injury reports for Sunday.Dolphins at BillsThe Dolphins haven’t ruled anyone out, but safety T.J. McDonald (ankle) is considered doubtful to play. LB Kiko Alonso (knee Max Scharping Jersey , hamstring), DE Andre Branch (knee), DT Ziggy Hood (hamstring) and CB Xavien Howard (knee) are listed as questionable.Bills RB Chris Ivory (shoulder) and CB Ryan Lewis (concussion) are listed as questionable. WR Deonte Thompson (toe) and LB Julian Stanford (ankle) are out.Lions at PackersThe Lions ruled out DT A'Shawn Robinson (knee), CB Deshawn Shead (knee) and TE Luke Willson (concussion). CB Jamal Agnew (knee), RB LeGarrette Blount (knee), DB Quandre Diggs (back), WR Kenny Golladay (chest), DT Damon Harrison (ankle) and CB Nevin Lawson (ankle) make up the questionable group.T Jason Spriggs (concussion) and WR Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) are listed as doubtful for the Packers. WR Davante Adams (knee), CB Jaire Alexander (groin), T David Bakhtiari (hip), S Kentrell Brice (ankle, not injury related), DE Fadol Brown (toe), G Lucas Patrick (abdomen) and G Lane Taylor (knee) make up the questionable group of players.Jets at PatriotsThe Jets will close out their season without CB Morris Claiborne (shoulder, ankle) http://www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kahale-warring-jersey , WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle), WR Jermaine Kearse (Achilles) and LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (shoulder). LB Jordan Jenkins (ankle) is the only player listed as questionable.Patriots TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring) will not play on Sunday. TE Dwayne Allen (knee), T LaAdrian Waddle (illness), WR Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) and LB Brandon King (knee) have been listed as questionable.Panthers at SaintsPanthers QB Cam Newton (right shoulder) remains out this week along with DT Kawann Short (calf) and G Trai Turner (ankle). RB Kenjon Barner (knee) and T Marshall Newhouse (hip) picked up questionable tags.The Saints are down three offensive linemen for Sunday. T Terron Armstead (pectoral), T Jermon Bushrod (hamstring) and G Larry Warford (knee) won’t be part of the lineup.Cowboys at GiantsThe Cowboys have ruled out DE Tyrone Crawford (neck) and DL David Irving (ankle) for Sunday CB Anthony Brown (back), LB Sean Lee (hamstring), G Zack Martin (knee) and T Tyron Smith (neck) are all listed as questionable.The Giants ruled out WR Odell Beckham (quad), LB Alec Ogletree (concussion), TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), DE Mario Edwards (calf) and WR Russell Shepherd (ankle).Falcons at BuccaneersG Wes Schweitzer (back) is the only Falcons player with an injury designation and he’s been ruled out.The Buccaneers don’t expect to have WR DeSean Jackson (Achilles) or DE Carl Nassib (shoulder) after listing them as questionable. LB Devante Bond (illness) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee/shoulder) are questionable to play in the final game of Tampa’s season.Jaguars at TexansJaguars RB Leonard Fournette (foot, ankle) is unlikely to play after being listed as doubtful. CB A.J. Bouye (toe), K Josh Lambo (groin) and T Josh Wells (concussion) are out — Lambo and Wells were placed on injured reserve after being ruled out — and RB Carlos Hyde (knee) is listed as questionable.The Texans listed WR Keke Coutee (hamstring), NT Brandon Dunn (ankle) and CB Johnathan Joseph (neck) as questionable to face Jacksonville.Eagles at WashingtonThe Eagles ruled out LB D.J. Alexander (hamstring), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring), G Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) Cullen Gillaspia Jersey , WR Mike Wallace (ankle) and QB Carson Wentz (back) on Friday. DE Michael Bennett (foot), LB Jordan Hicks (calf), C Jason Kelce (knee) and T Jason Peters (quad) are listed as questionable.Washington OL Ty Nsekhe (knee) and WR Maurice Harris (concussion) are out and TE Vernon Davis (concussion) will likely miss the game after being listed as doubtful. WR Josh Doctson (illness), DL Matt Ioannidis (shin, hamstring) LB Ryan Anderson (hamstring) and OL Tony Bergstrom (knee, ankle) are listed as questionable.Chargers at BroncosThe Chargers have a brief injury report for Week 17. TE Sean Culkin (back) is listed as questionable.The Broncos have no one with an injury designation after placing RB Phillip Lindsay and WR Andre Holmes on injured reserve.Raiders at ChiefsRaiders CB Gareon Conley (concussion) and DT Maurice Hurst (ankle) are listed as questionable to play on Sunday. CB Montrel Meander (quad) has been ruled out.WR Sammy Watkins (foot) remains out for the Chiefs. CB Kendall Fuller (thumb), S Eric Berry (heel), RB Spencer Ware (hamstring) and RB Darrel Williams (hamstring) are listed as questionable.49ers at RamsRB Matt Breida (ankle), TE Garrett Celek (concussion), WR Marquise Goodwin (calf) and WR Dante Pettis (knee) will not play for the 49ers. CB Tarvarius Moore (shoulder) is listed as questionable.Rams RB Todd Gurley (knee) is out for the second straight week. S Lamarcus Joyner (ankle) is also out for the home team.Bears at VikingsIt appears the Bears will be without S Eddie Jackson (ankle), WR Allen Robinson (ribs) and LB Aaron Lynch (elbow) after tagging them as limited. DT Bilal Nichols (knee) is listed as questionable.The Vikings hope to have CB Xavier Rhodes (groin) in the lineup after listing him as questionable. LB Eric Kendricks (hamstring) has been ruled out for the second week in a row and the team will also be without WR Chad Beebe (hamstring), FB C.J. Ham (elbow) and CB Marcus Sherels (foot). G Tom Compton (shoulder) joins Rhodes in the questionable category.Bengals at SteelersLB Vontaze Burfict (concussion) and CB Tony McRae (hamstring) are out for the Bengals.Steelers WR Antonio Brown (knee) went for tests on Friday and missed his second straight day of practice. He’s listed as questionable along with S Sean Davis (quad) and RB James Conner (ankle). LB Vince Williams (toe) is carrying a doubtful designation into Sunday.Cardinals at SeahawksCardinals TE Ricky Seals-Jones (shoulder) is out for the finale. Defensive ends Markus Golden (ankle) and Benson Mayowa (neck, back) are listed as questionable.G J.R. Sweezy (foot) won’t play for the Seahawks. G D.J. Fluker (hamstring), S Bradley McDougald (knee), DE Dion Jordan (knee) Tytus Howard Jersey , S Tedric Thompson (ankle) and RB Rashaad Penny (knee) are considered questionable.Browns at RavensStandout rookie CB Denzel Ward (concussion) is out for the Browns. LB Tanner Vallejo (hamstring) will also miss the game and was moved to injured reserve on Friday. C JC Tretter (ankle) is listed as questionable, but is expected to play.WR John Brown (hamstring), DB/LB Anthony Levine (toe, ankle), G Alex Lewis (shoulder), LB Terrell Suggs (hamstring) and CB Tavon Young (groin) are all listed as questionable for the Ravens. Colts at TitansThe Colts will not have C Ryan Kelly (neck) on Sunday night, but they are hopeful TE Eric Ebron (concussion, knee) can clear the concussion protocol in time to play. WR T.Y. Hilton (ankle) is listed as questionable, but said this week that he’ll be playing. S Clayton Geathers (knee), WR Zach Pascal (knee), WR Dontrelle Inman (shoulder) and DE Jabaal Sheard (teeth, knee) round out the quesitonable group. WR Daurice Fountain (ankle) is also out.Titans QB Marcus Mariota (neck, foot) is questionable for the playoff play-in game. LB Brian Orakpo (elbow) has been ruled out.