Lineup, Notes On Broom Day

RHP Justin Verlander (7-4, 2.57) will face RHP Kevin Correia (3-6, 4.12) as the Tigers send out their ace to try to prevent being broomed. It's a good matchup for Motown, pitting the top of their rotation against the back end of the Bucs. In his last outing against Pittsburgh, Verlander threw a one-hitter. Correia has dodged bullets better than his peripherals indicate he should, but he'll still have his hands full today, especially if a little regression rears its ugly head at PNC. The game starts at 1:35 and will be shown on Root Sports.

The lineup: Alex Presley LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Casey McGehee 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Garrett Jones RF, Clint Barmes SS, Mike McKenry C, Kevin Correia P.

Bucco ironman Neil Walker gets a blow today, replaced by Harrison as Barmes goes back to short after an off day. Hot Rod gets the day off too, with Fort McKenry behind the dish. Somehow, we doubt that Verlander will complain much about any of the changes.

• Light pen today. Jason Grilli and Jared Hughes are off on maintenance days, and Tony Watson will get up only if absolutely needed.
• One of the rumored Pirate trade targets, LHP Joe Saunders, was placed on the 15 day DL by the D-Backs with shoulder inflammation. That won't remove him from the radar; he's due back July 2nd.
• With yesterdays win, the Pirates have taken eight of their last nine series.
• RHP Jameson Taillon made this week's "Prospects Hot Sheet" feature in Baseball America.
• The Centre Daily Times' Guy Cipriano has a nice piece on newly drafted C Jacob Stallings. His dad is the hoops coach at Vandy but says "we are a baseball family that makes it’s living in basketball.”
• BTW, a first for Bucco fans - apparently a few of yesterday's sellout crowd mosied over to nearby Stage AE to catch the Clarks after the game, and a "Let's Go Bucs" chant broke out. While "Here We Go Steelers" and "Let's Go Pens" are common cheers there, it's thought to be the first time the Pirates have been repped at the North Shore venue located between Heinz Field and PNC Park.
• This day in history: In 1965, Willie Stargell mashed three homers to lead the Pirates to a 13-3 beatdown of LA at Dodger Stadium. After dingers in his first three at bats, Pops lined a shot off the outfield railing for a double; he was a foot away from his fourth long fly of the day.