Lineup, Notes, News

The Astros send RHP Jordan Lyles (3-10, 5.46 ERA) to the bump against LHP Wandy Rodriguez (9-13, 3.86). Lyles has been effective the first time through the order, batted around some the next time, and beat up pretty well by the third go-round. Wandy threw a solid game last time out against the Cards, and the Bucs need that kind of performance against his old teamates. The game starts at 7:05 and will be aired on Root Sports.

The lineup: Brock Holt 2B, Travis Snider RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Mike McKenry C, Alex Presley LF, Clint Barmes SS, Wandy Rodriguez P.

Holt is still at second; The Kid hopes to be back in the saddle by the weekend. Presley is in left, but dropped a few spots to help tidy up the back end of the order.

• The Pirates are 40-27 at home and need one more win at PNC Park to clinch just their second winning season in the park's 12-year history. Pittsburgh finished 43-38 at home in 2006. 
• The Bucs announced that OF Starling Marte will join Indy on a rehab assignment for game one of the International League playoffs tomorrow.He'll start his work tonight, playing for the State College Spikes, then join the Indians Wednesday.
• Zack von Rosenberg threw a nine-inning three-hitter with a pair of strikeouts in West Virginia's 4-1 victory last night. The complete game is a nice boost for the 21 year old ZVR as he looks ahead to 2013. He struggled for much of the season (5-7, 4.36), spending time in Florida to work on fastball command.
• Little late, but what the heck: The Pirates have agreed to terms with 21st round draft pick 1B/3B Jordan Steranka. The Mt Lebanon product, a senior, posted an overall .337 BA in a four-year career at Penn State. He started all 54 games of his career and earned All Big-Ten honors this campaign He got a signing extension from the league  because of illness.