MLB Game Preview - Pittsburgh at Boston
Mon Apr 3, 2017 2:05 PM EDT

MIA
2
WSH
4
F
ATL
0
NYM
6
F
PIT
3
BOS
5
F
COL
7
MIL
5
F
TOR
2
BAL
3
F(11)
SD
3
LAD
14
F
PHI
4
CIN
3
F
KC
1
MIN
7
F
CLE
8
TEX
5
F
SEA
0
HOU
3
F
LAA
2
OAK
4
F
DET
CHW
PPD
Red Sox begin life without Ortiz
Sun Apr 2, 2017 2:37 PM

A new era begins on Monday for the Boston Red Sox.

For the first time in 14 years, the Red Sox will play a game without jovial giant David Ortiz on the roster when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Fenway Park.

Ortiz, who retired last fall after 20 seasons, is an impossible figure to replace, one of the most iconic in Boston's history. His eye-popping numbers are irreplaceable, too.

At age 40 last season, Ortiz hit .315 with 38 home runs and 127 RBIs -- numbers he had not put up in 10 years.

"No one will replace David person for person. That's a given," Red Sox manager John Farrell told the Boston Herald. "No one even makes that claim."

Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello makes his first career Opening Day start for Boston after a stellar 2016, going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 189 strikeouts.

"Last year is last year," Porcello told MLB.com. "I'm not going to just sit here and be content because of what happened last year. We've still got things we want to accomplish as a team."

Porcello went 13-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 16 starts at home last season.

His numbers against the visitors aren't too shabby, either.

In three career starts versus the Pirates, the right-hander is 2-0 and has allowed just one earned run over 23 innings, good for a 0.39 ERA -- his lowest against any opponent.

John Jaso (3-for-14) has a homer and two RBIs opposite Porcello. David Freese (2-for-13,) and Andrew McCutchen (1-for-7) also have hits off of Porcello.

In four spring starts, Porcello went 2-0 with a 7.07 ERA (11 earned runs over 14 innings).

Like Porcello, Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole is also making his first Opening Day start. But the Pittsburgh ace's 2016 was unceremonious, going 7-10 with a 3.88 ERA and 98 strikeouts in just 21 starts while battling injury.

He was a first-time All-Star and won 19 games in 2015.

Cole went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA (four earned runs in 10 innings) in three spring starts.

Christian Vazquez is 2-for-3, and Ramirez and Mookie Betts are both 1-for-3 with an RBI versus Cole.

Cole tossed seven two-run innings with seven strikeouts in his only career start against Boston on Sept. 18, 2014. He has never pitched at Fenway.

The Pirates are also hoping for a bounce-back year for McCutchen. The 2013 National League MVP hit just .256 with 24 homers, 79 RBIs and a career-worst 143 strikeouts in 2016.

McCutchen's name was tossed around in trade talks during the offseason. He has been moved to right field this season.

"Our hope and belief is that Andrew McCutchen will be a great player again," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Pirates and Red Sox last met Sept. 16-18, 2014, with Pittsburgh outscoring Boston 16-3 en route to a three-game sweep at PNC Park. Boston's last victory against the Pirates was a 4-2 decision in Pittsburgh on June 26, 2011.

This is the Pirates' first trip to Fenway since June 2005. Before that, Pittsburgh had not played in Boston since the inaugural World Series in 1903.

Freese, however, has recent World Series memories at Fenway. He was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals team lost to Boston in six games during the 2013 Fall Classic.

"I've lost a World Series there. It's awesome," Freese told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"If you're going to play the AL East in interleague and you're going to play Boston, why not have it be Opening Day, you know, the first series?"

Freese starts the year at third base as Jung Ho Kang remains in South Korea after his DUI arrest. Kang was denied a work visa and the Pirates are uncertain if or when he will be able to return.

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Pittsburgh            
Boston            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Gerrit Cole - NYY
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Boston
Rick Porcello - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Pittsburgh

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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