Day 32: Astros @ Pirates

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

I’m going to keep this short because the big news of the morning — Daniel McCutchen winning the fifth starter job — has already been reported (reference previous blog entry if you haven’t seen it).

In other news:

• Octavio Dotel is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday. He pitched a four-out inning in a Minor League game on Monday. GM Neal Huntington confirmed on Tuesday morning that Dotel is still on track to be ready for Opening Day.
• For those wanting to stay ahead, your other Wednesday pitchers include: Paul Maholm, D.J. Carrasco, Brendan Donnelly and Javier Lopez.
• Carrasco is also pitching in a Triple-A game at Pirate City today.
• Both Joel Hanrahan and Wil Ledezma will pitch one inning in a Minor League game on Wednesday. This will be the first time either has pitched in a game this spring.
• The Pirates’ clubhouse was closed this morning due to cuts being made and a Players’ Association meeting.
• For the first time this spring, the Pirates will have their pitcher hit in the game today.

Pirates lineup:

1. Andrew McCutchen (CF)
2. Aki Iwamura (2B)
3. Garrett Jones (RF)
4. Ryan Doumit (C)
5. Jeff Clement (1B)
6. Lastings Milledge (LF)
7. Ronny Cedeno (SS)
8. Andy LaRoche (3B)
9. Ross Ohlendorf (RHP)

Pitchers: Ohlendorf, Anthony Claggett, Steven Jackson, Jeremy Powell

Astros lineup:

1. T.J. Steele (CF)
2. Kazuo Matsui (2B)
3. Jason Michaels (LF)
4. Pedro Feliz (3B)
5. Chris Shelton (1B)
6. Edwin Maysonet (SS)
7. Humberto Quintero (C)
8. Drew Locke (RF)
9. Felipe Paulino (RHP)

Pitchers: Paulino, Brandon Lyon, Shane Loux, Gary Majewski

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