Lineup, Pre-Game Notes

RHP A.J. Burnett (1-0, 0.00) goes against the Braves' RHP Tommy Hanson (2-2, 3.38) tonight at Turner Field. Hanson has won 2 out of his last three starts, and AJ opened his season by putting up nothing but zeroes. The game starts at 7:35 and will be shown on Root Sports.

You should remember the last time the Pirates visited the Ted. They were tied for first in late July of 2011, and split a four game series, losing a pair of extra inning games (thank you, Jerry Meals) to fall 1-1/2 games out. Pittsburgh then went on to drop 10 in a row, and daddy took the T-Bird away.

The lineup: Alex Presley LF, Clint Barmes SS, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones RF, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Casey McGehee 1B, Rod Barajas C, AJ Burnett P.

Clint Hurdle is looking for a little more thump. Jose Tabata sits for a second game and Casey McGehee gets in the lineup.

• AJ Burnett is two K’s shy of becoming the seventh active MLB pitcher with at least 1,800 strikeouts.
• RHP Jared Hughes made history as the first 26th man in MLB history when he appeared against the Rockies in the opener of Wednesday's twin bill. The dugout lineup card is actually going to be exhibited in Cooperstown at the Hall of Fame. The extra man is allowed for doubleheaders per the most recent CBA.
• The kids are alright: Brad Lincoln is holding opponents to an .071 BA (1-14) and Tony Watson's opponent BA is .136 (3-22). Hanny (.100, 2-20) and Jason Grilli (.154, 4-26) have also held their foes to under .200.
• The Pirates were 57-26 when they scored 4+ runs last year; they're 5-0 this season.
• The Bucs have put together a streak of 45 consecutive innings without an error. 2011's longest stretch of mistake-free ball reached 64 frames.
• 21 year old RHP Stetson Allie was sent down to short-season State College after two outings at Class A West Virginia, where he walked eight of the twelve batters he faced. He also hit another hitter and uncorked three wild pitches.
• West Virginia SS Alen Hanson extended his league-best hitting streak to 16 games.
• RHP Daniel Cabrera made his first Pirate appearance with High Class A Bradenton. The veteran righty was signed to a minor league contract after missing 2011 due to Tommy John surgery, and was in Pirate City strengthening his arm before returning to action.