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Pirates' Volquez on starting wild-card game: 'I deserve it'

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Edinson Volquez believes he's earned the right to start Wednesday's wild-card game against the San Francisco Giants, reports Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The 31-year-old was among the game's strongest pitchers throughout the second half of the season, crafting a 2.20 ERA over his final 13 starts of the campaign. Volquez, however, has just one career postseason appearance, and joked that teammate Francisco Liriano is "a little nervous" about his impending start.

Volquez, who signed a one-year, $5-million deal with the Pirates last winter, fashioned a 3.04 ERA (117 ERA+) across 192 2/3 innings this season - his most since 2008 - and received a vote of confidence Tuesday from manager Clint Hurdle.

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