Holiday Lineup, Notes

The Reds send RHP Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 3.22) against RHP James McDonald (3-2, 2.51) this afternoon. Should be an interesting three days, as the Pirates go from playing the NL Central's cellar dwelling Cubs to the first place Reds (Cincy leads the Bucs by four games). Chicago came into town ice-cold and in a hitting slump while Cincinnati has won eight of its last nine and has been pounding the horsehide. And we all know that the Bucs (23-24) approach a .500 record like a soldier goes after a rolling grenade. The contest starts at 1:35 and will be aired on Root Sports.

The Lineup: Jose Tabata LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Garrett Jones RF, Matt Hague 1B, Rod Barajas C, Clint Barmes SS, James McDonald P.

JT got the OK to go after cramping up yesterday, and Josh Harrison is getting a day off.

• Neal Huntington said on his radio show yesterday that the next call-up may be IF Jordy Mercer, who would likely be swapped out with Yamiaco Navarro. The move is being considered in part because of Mercer's play and in part because the FO thinks Navarro would benefit from getting steady work at Indy.
• Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports joins Dejan Kovacevic of the Tribune Review in calling for a Bucco move to pick up a bat, writing that "If ever a team should consider trading pitching for hitting — similar to what the Mariners did in the Michael Pineda-for-Jesus Montero exchange — it’s the Pirates." We're hoping that the FO can pull off a legit baseball trade rather than a desperation deal; they have the pieces.
• First, Pine-Richland's Blake Lalli of the Cubs had a homecoming; this series it's the Red's Devin Mesoraco of Punxsutawney. Mike Waterloo of Ohio Valley Athletics has his story.
• Thanks and hoorah to all our servicemen and women. When the going gets tough, they're who you really want to share a foxhole with. They're always clutch.