Lineup, Notes, News; Clement Gets Call Up

Milwaukee RHP Mike Fiers (6-6, 2.90 ERA) takes on LHP Wandy Rodriguez (8-12, 4.00) tonight. The rookie Fiers was mowing down the opposition in his first dozen starts, even flirting with a no-hitter earlier this month, but has been beat up for 12 runs in seven innings during his last two outings. Wandy, who won the Cardinal all-nighter in relief, is looking for his first Bucco win as a starter. The game starts at 7:05 and is on Root Sports.

The lineup: Jose Tabata LF, Travis Snider RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Rod Barajas C, Clint Barmes SS, Wandy Rodriguez P.

The teams have split six games this season, all in Milwaukee. The Brewers have won one game on the road in their past 15, and are 19-38 away from Miller Field this season, so this is as good a time as any for the Bucs to start makin' hay.

• The Pirates have brought up 1B Jeff Clement and optioned IF Yamaico Navarro back to Indy.  Clement hit .276 with 35 doubles, 16 HR & 57 RBI this season in AAA. He was added to the 40 man roster, which still has an opening.
• The Pirates claimed LHP Hisanori Takahashi off waivers from the Angels. The 37 year old was 0-3 with a 4.30 ERA, but his peripherals are fairly solid (1.167 WHIP, 8.8K/nine, 2.1BB/nine) and he had two strong back-to-back seasons in 2010-11 for the Mets and Halos. He was a soft-tossing starter in Japan, but was moved to the pen when he signed with NY. No word yet on his assignment (he was in AAA) or any corresponding roster moves.
• IF Jordy Mercer is back after paternity leave - congrats, his new son, Maverick, arrived Tuesday, weighing in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces - and RHP Daniel McCutchen was returned to Indy.
• RHP Juan Cruz passed through waivers and was released; we'd expect him to land with another contending club looking for bullpen depth before September.
• Scott Miller of CBS Sports assures us that "Nothing Is Wrong With McCutchen."
• The Cards, who just pulled ahead of the Bucs in the wildcard after a sweep of Houston, will have their work cut out for them in what could be their biggest road trip of the campaign. They begin a 10-game swing tonight in Cincinnati with visits to Pittsburgh and Washington.
• The Pirates are expected to play the AL West in 2013 with Detroit as their rivalry team, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune Review.
• Altoona Curve SS Brock Holt, now promoted to AAA Indy, was named an Eastern League post-season All Star. Holt hit .322 for Class AA Altoona and still leads the batting race in EL.
• Congrats to the Indy Indians. Their win over Louisville coupled with a Columbus loss cinched the AAA International League Western Division crown, their first since 2000. RHP Phil Irwin tossed the decider, going six innings and giving up a run on five hits, a walk and nine K's. 
• Ditto to the rookie league GCL Pirates, tied for first and guaranteed a playoff spot in the Gulf Coast League North.