Sunday, August 21, 2016

Sunday: Ryan Vogelsong v Jose Urena, Lineup, Notes

Today: The series ends with a 1:35 start that will be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan as the Pirates look to take a game from the Fish. The festivities include the usual kiddy activities and a WB Mason truck collectable for the young 'uns.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (2-2, 3.20) meets Jose Urena (1-4, 6.80) to put the series to bed. V-Song has been tough as a starter, with a recent burp in an emotional return to San Francisco. This will be the 39-year-old's sixth start, and he's only given up more than two runs in one of those, when the G-Men got to him last time out. He's been a six-inning guy and a nice pick-me-up since his return. At 24, Urena is on the uphill slope of his career. This will be his fifth start after being plucked from the pen to the rotation. His first two outings were strong; his last two, not so much, and it's tough to tell with a young guy who you'll see on any given day. He's walked seven in his past two outings, so he's another twirler who calls for a disciplined approach.

Vogey looks for a bounce back today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh 2B, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Josh Bell 1B, S-Rod SS, Eric Fryer C, Vogelsong P. Josh Bell gets his first MLB start. Fran gets a day-after-night game break and Jordy gets a blow.

  • The Pirates didn't disclose the nature of JHK's shoulder injury, but did say his timetable to return is two-to-four weeks. So Freeser should step into the everyday 3B role he held earlier in the season with some combo of JJ/S-Rod/Josh Bell doing the 1B tango.
  • Alan Hansen has not only been smoking the ball this month at Indy, but he stole his 35th base yesterday, matching his career single-season high. 
  • Flying under the radar: Indy RHP Trevor Williams leads the International League with a 0.95 WHIP since June 24th while posting a 1.76 ERA. He's 7-6, 2.88 w/1.238 WHIP overall in 2016, starting slowly after missing time with a bum wing.
  • Tyler Glasnow will make a rehab start tomorrow at Altoona, with a four inning/65-pitch limit.
  • Today is the anniversary of Rollie Fingers earning his 300th save in 1982, the first reliever to hit that number. Since then, 26 have joined him on the 300+ list. Two guys who passed through Pittsburgh, Jose Mesa (321) and Goose Gossage (310), are in that club. The all-time Pirates save leader is ElRoy Face (188 Pgh., 191 career), followed by Teke (158 Pgh., 184 career).

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