Lineup, Notes v KC

The Bucs are back. LHP Erik Bedard (3-6, 3.72) goes against the KC Royal's Luke Hochevar (3-6, 6.63). Both guys got beat up in their last start, Bedard against the Brewers and Hochevar against the As. The game starts at 7:05 and will be shown by Root Sports. Come early; the Point will be packed with the Three Rivers Arts Festival in full swing and The Wailers performing in Point State Park.

KC is 24-31, and hits pretty well, although they don't score a whole lot and have some problems with the pitching. So this is a good opportunity for Pittsburgh to keep on the winning track before they take a six-game swing through Baltimore and Cleveland next week.

The lineup: Alex Presley LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Jose Tabata RF, Rod Barajas C, Clint Barmes SS, Erik Bedard P.

It worked last night. Let's hope it keeps cookin' tonight.

• Pittsburgh will play a 15-game interleague stretch after four straight series victories against NL Central opponents. The Pirates are 9-3 in their last 12 games, with five wins coming in one-run games. 
• The NL isn't the only side that has to scuffle during interleague. To keep DH Billy Butler (The Royals' top hitter with a slash of 296/11/35) in the game, the Royals will use first baseman Eric Hosmer in right field, RF'er Jeff Francoeur will move to center, displacing Jarrod Dyson, and Butler will play at first.
• Believe or not, Pittsburgh has played KC 23 times. The Pirates are 10-13 all-time against the Royals. 
• The Bucs sold C Kris Watts to the Nats today.  Watts, 27, was an organizational type guy and got caught in a numbers game in the upper levels of the Pirate system.