Lineup, Notes - Bedard Tries To Salvage One

The Padres send RHP Ross Ohlendorf (4-2, 5.61 ERA) to the hill to take on LHP Erik Bedard (6-12, 4.53 ERA). Ohlie is coming off his best start of the season, holding the Cubs to one earned run over six frames. One thing in may work in his favor is his strong reverse split this year; lefties are hitting 60 points lower against him than righties (caution; small sample size; lefties hit .297 against him in his career), and the Pirates are likely to load up from the left side against him. (EDIT - they didn't; Snider is sitting).

Bedard is 4-0 lifetime against the Padres with a 1.63 ERA in four starts, and he went seven shutout frames in his last outing against Arizona. The game begins at 1:35 and will aired on Root Sports.

The Bucs have lost three games in a row for the first time since June and four of their last five. With LA coming into town for a four game set, this would be a nice time for Bedard to come up big and keep the Bucs from getting broomed. A quick start from the gate would help. The bad guys have scored at least one run in the first inning in each of the last five games and have homered in three straight.

The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones RF, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Mike McKenry C, Clint Barmes SS, Erik Bedard P.

We'd like to see Sanchez and McKenry flopped in the lineup, but nether is a five hitter so it's really a case of six of one, half dozen of the other.

• The Pirates reinstated Juan Cruz from the disabled list and optioned Jared Hughes to Indy. Why Hughes? Well, because he is the only RHP in the pen who had an option left. He'll be back soon enough. We'd guess he won't shoulder quite the same high leverage workload for the Tribe, but will be working on resting up his arm for the September stretch in Pittsburgh.
• Travis Snider won't start today after a hammy twinge yesterday, but should be available off the bench if needed.
• In more minor news, LHP Jo Jo Reyes is working a rehab stint at Altoona.