For Glasnow, improvement is tale of tape

Young righty looking forward to Saturday start; Marte misses balls; J-Hay to lead off

April 14th, 2017

CHICAGO -- After an ugly season debut Monday, sat down to watch video with pitching coach Ray Searage. But they didn't focus on his first start, when he gave up five runs on five walks and four hits while only recording five outs against the Reds.
They were less concerned with what went wrong and more focused on what Glasnow can do right next time out.
"Kind of to look at when you were successful," said Glasnow, who will start Saturday at Wrigley Field. "We did look back at some of the changes and stuff. There were some differences between when I was good and last game, minor adjustments and stuff."

Glasnow said he dwelled on the outing for a day or two, but getting back into a normal routine helped him move forward. As the fifth starter, that was difficult to do coming out of Spring Training. Before Monday, Glasnow last pitched in relief April 1 in Montreal. His last start was 16 days earlier.
"I'm comfortable now getting into that more consistent routine," Glasnow said of the shifting schedule. "I've done it before, so it's not an excuse."
Glasnow has never pitched at Wrigley Field, and Saturday will be his first time facing the Cubs' dangerous lineup. As he looks to put his shaky debut behind him, how will he handle it?
"Treat it like every other start," he said. "You've got to start fresh this time."
Outfield impressions

Center fielder missed two potentially catchable balls -- by the two-time Gold Glove Award winner's standards, at least -- in the pivotal eighth inning of the Pirates' 4-3 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday.
reached second on a ball that landed in front of Marte, who pulled up when he decided he couldn't make the catch. Marte made a strong throw to second baseman Phil Gosselin, who was charged with an error after missing the catch. Later in the inning, Marte couldn't track down the game-tying double hit over his head.

"In the long picture, I think he's going to learn from both those plays," manager Clint Hurdle said. "There was a play to be made at second base [on the first play] that we didn't make as well."
New leadoff man

Hurdle gave Josh Harrison his first start of the year atop the order on Friday. The Pirates had been alternating Marte and in the leadoff spot against right-handers, but went back to Harrison -- a career .308/.344/.451 hitter batting first -- in the 10th game of the season.
"I don't think this, specifically -- the one man moving to the leadoff spot -- will help us with driving in runners in scoring position," Hurdle said. "However, who knows? Give it a shot. … He always gives us some energy. We'll see if we can capitalize on that."
Around the horn

• First baseman Josh Bell, 4-for-28 to start the season, was out of the lineup Friday. Hurdle praised Bell's aggressiveness at the plate but noted he may be "getting outside himself in his aggression," affecting the timing of his swing.
• The Pirates announced on Friday that Penn State University and West Virginia University will play a baseball game at PNC Park on May 10, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.