Linep, Notes, News As Chipper Takes His Bow

The Braves send  ol' familiar  LHP Paul Maholm (13-10, 3.71) out on his former home bump to face LHP Jeff Locke (0-3, 6.35). Maholm is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA this season against Pittsburgh (as a Cub), while Locke is looking for his first W in the show. The game starts at 7:05 and be aired by Root Sports.

The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Chase D’Arnaud 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Mike McKenry C, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Jose Tabata RF, Clint Barmes SS, Jeff Locke P.

Hey, Chase d'Arnaud gets a start.

Atlanta has won 7-of-8, peaking at the right time for the playoffs and looking to keep the pedal to the metal. Their hot finish pulled them within hailing distance of Washington, but the Braves are three back with three to go. This is also the last regular-season series for retiring Braves legend Chipper Jones. Pittsburgh is 7-21 in September, a collapse of Biblical proportions and are finishing up the year by sending Locke, KC and AJ to the hill.

• The Bucs have a special ceremony in store for Chipper Jones tonight, but they aren't spilling the beans as to what it will entail. Gotta be there, we guess.
• The Pirates had three players ranked in Baseball America's Top Twenty Prospect List for the short-season NY-Penn League. They were RHP Luis Heredia, OF Barrett Barnes and RHP Clay Holmes.
• Dan Connelly of the Baltimore Sun has a feature on Nate McLouth, who tells him he never saw the 2009 trade to Atlanta coming.