Lineup, Notes, News; Walker Done

RHP Homer Bailey (12-10, 3.92 ERA) takes the bump against RHP A.J. Burnett (16-8, 3.53 ERA). Bailey has been strong away from Great American this year, going 7-2/2.75 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. AJ is 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA in four starts against the Reds this year, three of which came at Great American Ball park against Homer Bailey. He's also one win away from tying Zach Duke's Pirate mark of most PNC Park victories in a year at nine. One last note: AJ has lost his last three home starts and Bailey has never lost in Pittsburgh. The game starts at 7:05 and will be shown on Root Sports.

The lineup:Alex Presley LF, Jordy Mercer 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Jose Tabata RF, Pedro Alvarez RF, Clint Barmes SS, Rod Barajas C, AJ Burnett P.

Whew - Cutch is back, and Jordy Mercer, after a two-hit game, is at second. The Kid (see below) is done for the season.

The series means something to Cincy; they're a game behind the Nats for home field, so Pittsburgh will be playing the A Team. Oh, and it's the last chance to stick one in Brandon Phillips' ear for both Cutch's and Hughes' sake.

• Neil Walker's back diagnosis is a herniated disc.  The bad news is he's done for the year; the good news is no surgery is needed. The question, of course, is why the Pirates let him play with the injury.
• Jeff Karstens won't get another start this year, sez Clint Hirdle.
• Linda Olson of Fan House: "Cutch Is Living The Dream."
• The Bucs finished 34-47 (.420) on the road this season.
• Washington's third base coach, Bo Porter, was hired as the new Astro manager. He'll take over after the Nat's post-season concludes. Also, the Indians canned Manny Acta, although they may have been better off firing the team instead.