Notes

Today matchup features Houston's LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 2.97 ERA) and RHP Jeff Karstens (6-4, 2.65). Game time is 7:05 PM, and Root Sports will show the game.

The lineup: Alex Presley LF, Chase d'Arnaud SS, Matt Diaz RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Neil Walker 2B, Lyle Overbay 1B, Brandon Wood 3B, Mike McKenry C, Jeff Karstens P.

Wood is starting at third. Josh Harrison must still be a little woozy after his run-in at the plate last night. He was supposed to be tested for a concussion today, but we haven't heard any results yet. Diaz is batting in the three hole. That's a very hard position for Clint Hurdle to fill when Garrett Jones is off against a lefty.

• Jose Veras (42) and Chris Resop (41) are in the MLB's top ten for relief appearances; Daniel McCutchen is in the top ten for innings pitched by a reliever with 43. Hanny is just outside that range, with 39 appearances and 39-1/3 innings of work. Even with all the work, Hurdle has done a good job of keeping the innings down - only D-Mac projects to working more than 75 innings in 2011, and that's an appropriate work load for a swing man.
• The Pirates have traded Indy RHP Cesar Valdez (1-1, 3.86) to the Marlins for a PTBNL or cash. Valdez was acquired in Zach Duke deal with Arizona during the offseason.