Lineup, Notes

This afternoon's 3:40 game will match RHP James McDonald against RHP Daniel Hudson of Arizona at Chase Park. J-Mac has struggled but kept his starts in hand so far, while Hudson is off to a tough start with an 8.71 ERA. Root Sports is scheduled to air the game, shoehorned before the Penguins 7:30 playoff match.

The lineup: Alex Presley LF, Clint Barmes SS, Andrew McCutchen CF, Neil Walker 2B, Casey McGehee 1B, Garrett Jones RF, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Mike McKenry C, James McDonald P.

The mad scientist, Clint Hurdle, is mixing it up again. It's a no-brainer with the way the Pirates are hitting to keep McGehee and Jones, who has started to square up on the ball, in the middle of the lineup. Jose Tabata starts his second game on the pine, and Rod Barajas gets a night-to-day match beauty rest.

• The Pirates ran their season-opening streak of neither scoring nor allowing more than five runs a game to 11 games last night. The last NL team to have a longer streak were the 1965 Pirates, who did so for their first 16 games.
• Pittsburgh is off tomorrow, and then face the Cards at home over the weekend for a three game set.
• Dan Durorio of Fangraphs sees a Pirate future with Juan Cruz as the closer.
• RHP Tim Alderson is in the midst of a comeback; he was just promoted to Indy.