Worth noting

• Charlie Morton will make his final rehab start Sunday, when Indianapolis takes on Columbus. He will throw 80 pitches, and "it will be about execution," Hurdle said.

• The Pirates rank last in the Majors in batting average with runners in scoring position (.214). The Cardinals are first at .333, and the Reds are ninth at .279. The teams are within three games of each other atop the NL Central.

• With a win in any of their next three games, the Pirates will have 18 victories in May, their most in a calendar month since September 1992.

• Shortstop John McDonald (lower back strain) is 0-for-7 in two rehab starts with Indianapolis.