Lineup, Notes, News

The Brewers RHP Marco Estrada (3-6, 3.77 ERA) toes the rubber agaisnt Pirate rookie RHP Kyle McPherson (0-0, 1.54 ERA), who is making his first MLB start. Estrada is a fastball/changeup pitcher whose major problem has been the longball. McPherson, the Pirates’ 2011 minor league pitcher of the year, is a power guy with a fastball/curve/change repertoire who has whiffed 11 batters in 11-2/3 IP. The game starts at 7:05 and will be shown on Root Sports.

The lineup: Brock Holt 2B, Starling Marte LF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Mike McKenry C, Travis Snider RF, Clint Barmes SS, Kyle McPherson P.

Snider is back in the lineup; Walker is out and is being handled as if he's day-to-day with his back.  Big game on a couple of levels; lose tonight and the team is no longer above .500.

• Neil Walker is available off the bench; his back isn't 100% and the Pirates aren't rushing it. In fact, Clint Hurdle said he may not play than two straight days for the rest of the season.
• Dejan Kovacevic of the Trib hit a home run today in his column covering the major Pirate shortcomings - draft results, player development, and free agents.
• Kyle McPherson will become the tenth different pitcher to start a game for the Pirates this season. The Pirates started nine pitchers last season.
• We know AJ is slow to the plate. Who do you think started the last time the Bucs gave up seven stolen bases? It was Bob Walk on May 23, 1990 in the Astrodome.
• Why's it tough to stop the Brewers? How 'bout because they lead the NL in both HR and SB.