Notes

RHP James McDonald (7-5, 4.17) will take on RHP Rodrigo Lopez (2-3, 4.40) and try to salvage a game of the Cub series. First pitch is at 7:05 PM and will be shown on Root Sports.

Lineup: Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones RF, Neil Walker 2B, Derrek Lee 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Ryan Ludwick LF, Ryan Doumit C, Brandon Wood SS, James McDonald P.

Coupla switches - Wood is at short, not Ronny Cedeno, and Pedro is batting fifth, flopping positions in the lineup with Ludwick. It both breaks up the back-to-back righties in the order and moves Pedro into a little better RBI spot.

Ooops - change the lineup; Derrek Lee is out after getting hit in the hand during last night's game. The new order: Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Neil Walker 2b, Ryan Ludwick LF, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Ryan Doumit C, Xavier Paul RF, Brandon Wood SS, James McDonald P.

Let's see...Garrett Jones bats second, Xavier Paul seventh. Guess Clint Hurdle wants to spread the speed out.

• Pedro Alvarez has five hits in his last eleven at bats. 
• Neil Walker leads all NL second basemen with 77 DP's turned so far this year.
• The Pirates average attendance in 2011 is 24,347; it was 19,919 last season. That's an increase of 22%. 
• Yesterdays battery, Charlie Morton and Mike McKenry, teamed up again today to hand out awards at the Veteran's Wheelchair Games.
• Nyjer Morgan is becoming quite a hit in Milwaukee, says MLB.com writer Audrey Snyder.