Pirates setting alarms early for Sunday's 11:35 a.m. start against Cardinals on Peacock

Andrew McCutchen wasn’t interested in a reminder that the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to set early alarms for their game against the St. Louis Cardinals at 11:35 a.m. Sunday that will be live-streamed on Peacock.

Before the Pirates star could hit the snooze alarm on the conversation, he was reminded the early start could draw a church crowd to PNC Park.

“Maybe,” McCutchen said, “they’ll still be in church.”

McCutchen will have a chance to crack more jokes Sunday, as he’ll be mic’d up in-game as part of its MLB Sunday Leadoff program. The Peacock livestream will feature Brendan Burke providing play by play alongside Pirates analyst Bob Walk and retired Cardinals star Albert Pujols, who finished his career with 703 home runs.

The game is part of a featured package of NBC Sports-produced games live-streamed on Peacock in 19 of 20 weeks over the MLB regular season. Most of the remaining games are scheduled to start at 12:05 p.m. or 1:05 p.m., with the Pirates-Cardinals on Sunday and Arizona Diamondbacks at the Detroit Tigers on June 11 the exceptions with 11:35 a.m. starts.

“It’s brutal, honestly. It’s a brutal time for a game,” McCutchen said following Friday’s 7-5 win over the Cardinals. “No one plays a game before 12 o’clock unless it’s the Fourth of July in D.C. or something like that. It’s not a game (time) that you’re pumped about.

“You’ve got to get your proper rest and be ready to go because it’s early and you’re going to be getting up earlier than you’re used to. You just accept it. Show up and be ready to go because the game is important. Put all your feelings aside and get the job done.”