Worth noting

By Tom Singer

August 23, 2013

• Recovering reliever Jason Grilli (right forearm tendon) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Sunday, then has been penciled in for a simulated game -- 25 pitches -- on Wednesday back in PNC Park.

• Entering Friday night's games, the only National League players who had reached base in more games than Andrew McCutchen's 105 were all Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto (119), Shin-Soo Choo (110) and Jay Bruce (107).

• Clint Hurdle "was hoping" to get Starling Marte (bruised right hand), the league's leading hitter against left-handers, into Friday night's lineup against San Francisco southpaw Madison Bumgarner, but the left fielder "seems to be in a little bit of a holding pattern," the manager said.

Marte missed a fifth straight start since since being stepped on during a steal attempt Sunday, and the Pirates were considering placing him on the DL, after all, if he figured to miss the rest of the weekend.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.