PITTSBURGH -- With knuckleballer R.A. Dickey starting for Atlanta, John Jaso replaced Josh Bell at first base in the Pirates' lineup Saturday night.
It wasn't that Bell, who is 2-for-10, needed a day off, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Rather, the veteran Jaso has more experience against knuckleball pitchers in general, and Dickey in particular. This is Jaso's ninth season; Bell had played in 48 big league games dating to last season.
"John's seen this guy," Hurdle said. "John's got some at-bats off Dickey, so there's more of a comfort right there, an experienced guy that's seen Dickey pitch before.