Rumors, Notes, Lineup As Fish Swim To Town

Miami's RHP Ricky Nolasco (8-7, 4.47 ERA) takes the bump against RHP Kevin Correia (6-6, 4.25 ERA). Nolasco has been pretty effective against the Pirates, and KC is working on a four game win streak. The game starts, weather permitting, at 7:05 and will be aired on Root Sports.

The Marlins dropped two out of three to the Cubs, and at 44-48 are just a nudge away from selling some players off before the deadline. The Pirates came back to take the Rockies set, and are looking to buy an outfielder and pitcher. There are an interesting 10 days coming up; we're wondering if the first trade will be followed by a deluge of moves or if this will be one of those down-to-the-last-minute, last-bidder-wins market years.

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

• Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports writes that the Pirates are interested in D-Back SS Stephen Drew. Buster Olney of ESPN, though, says the two teams haven't discussed him. Gotta love silly season.
• The Denver Post reports "Detroit, Texas and Pittsburgh have expressed interest in acquiring Mario Scutera." Hmmm, another SS...
• Tom Singer of MLB.com twittered that "The Royals are anxious to move Jeff Francoeur to clear spot for Wil Myers. Great RF'er with cannon arm. Yep, on Pirates' radar." 
• Jayson Stark of ESPN posts the Bucs are at least kicking the tires on Hunter Pence and Billy Butler. KC can't find a spot in the field for Butler, who is a pure DH, so we can't see him in the NL.
• Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune notes that "Among the teams pushing hardest for (Chase) Headley are the Pittsburgh Pirates (Headley has a .333 batting average at PNC Park in Pittsburgh) and the Baltimore Orioles." 
• Jon Mororsi of Fox Sports tweets "The Pirates remain involved in the Justin Upton market, source says. He is at or near the top of their wish list for hitters."
• John Perrotto of Inside Pittsburgh Sports updates an old story: the GM's around the league think the Pirates overvalue their prospects and lowball on trade offers.
• Dave Schoenfield of ESPN blog "The Sweet Spot" posts "McCutchen's Season Reminiscent of Bonds."
• Tom Singer of MLB.com has an article on Cutch, too, focusing on the home cooking of PNC Park.
• For the second straight night, JT was on the pine for Indy. Attitude adjustment or possible trade bait?
• RHP Clay Holmes had a pretty decent outing for State College. He went five innings, giving up no runs on one hit with four K, using 61 pitches.
• And you thought Kip Wells was a resurrection story? Jason Kendall, 38, signed with the KC Royals after sitting out 2011 and was assigned to AA.