PITTSBURGH -- Expressing disappointment that Ross Ohlendorf was denied the chance to make a start at Wrigley Field on Sunday because of an oddly handled rain delay and eventual postponement, manager John Russell will now send the right-hander to the mound in Tuesday's contest against the Brewers.

Ohlendorf had gone through his entire pregame warmup on Sunday, only to sit for more than three hours before being told there would be no game played. As it turned out, Sunday's routine was much like Ohlendorf's routine two days out before his next start, which is exactly where it ended up falling.

"Ross has been throwing really well and I would have liked to have seen him pitch [on Sunday]," Russell said. "He thrives in an arena like that. He loves pitching in front of a crowd and even on the road. I was anxious to see him pitch."

Ohlendorf, who leads the club with 10 wins on the season, continues to progress through his first full season as a big league starter and will be doing so the rest of the season with his reworked delivery motion. With help from pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, Ohlendorf has a new delivery, where he comes more over his head with his hands.

In just a few starts, Ohlendorf has shown better command of his changeup as a result. He has not had to rely on his sinker as much, but when he does, the velocity is up. His sinker, which was sitting with a velocity in the upper 80s earlier this year, was consistently hitting 93-94 mph in Ohlendorf's last start.

So why didn't Kerrigan push Ohlendorf to go to this new delivery earlier in the season? It was all a part of a longer development plan, explained Russell.

"I think Joe did a great job with him and the standard delivery. He had just to command the strike zone and not try to overthrow," Russell said. "Last year, [Ohlendorf] had the velocity, but the command wasn't there. We said all year that [his old motion] probably cost him some of his velocity because it was more stiff and rigid.

"Joe was going to wait until September to introduce him to it. We got to the point where it was time. It really freed Ross up."

Pitching matchup
PIT: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (10-8, 4.30 ERA)
The righty was nothing short of efficient in his previous start, when he gave up three runs on six hits in six-plus innings for the win against the Rockies on Tuesday. Ohlendorf is in the midst of a second-half surge, as he's 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA in five outings -- with four quality starts -- since the All-Star break. If there's anything that could derail him, it might be his ribs. Ohlendorf fielded a ground ball in the sixth inning against the Rockies and had his wind knocked out. He stayed in the ballgame and said he was a little sore postgame.

MIL: LHP Manny Parra (8-8, 6.44 ERA)
Parra took advantage of an early nine-run lead on Thursday to earn his eighth win of the season despite not lasting through the sixth inning. Parra held San Diego scoreless for the first four innings, but the Padres made him pay in the fifth and sixth, scoring all six runs in those two innings. Parra threw 104 pitches in 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 13 hits, and he struck out seven. Parra's only start against the Pirates came on May 20, 2008, when he allowed four hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings.

Bucs bits
Triple-A starter Daniel McCutchen earned Pitcher of the Week honors in the International League for his performances last week. McCutchen went 2-0 and tossed 13 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked just two and struck out 14. Indianapolis starters have now garnered this award in back-to-back weeks, with Eric Hacker earning it earlier this month. ... Left-hander Phil Dumatrait made an appearance out of the bullpen for Indianapolis on Sunday, his first relief appearance during his ongoing rehab stint. Dumatrait allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. ... Right-hander Jose Ascanio had further tests on his right shoulder on Monday, but the results were not immediately available. Ascanio was put on the disabled list last week for what has so far been labeled right shoulder tendinitis.

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Up next
• Wednesday: Pirates (Paul Maholm, 6-7, 4.93) vs. Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 11-9, 3.52), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Pirates (Charlie Morton, 2-6, 5.51) vs. Reds (Johnny Cueto, 8-10, 4.61), 7:05 p.m. ET