Locke v Fiers This Afternoon

Jeff Locke (4-1, 2.73) takes the hill against fill-in Mike Fiers (1-2, 5.93), who is getting a spot start for Kyle Lohse, out with elbow irritation. Locke gave up three runs in six innings in his only start against the Brewers, and is coming off a shutout win versus the Astros. The lefty has won his past four decisions. Righty Fiers has worked mostly from the pen and hasn't started since the Rox hit him hard in early April.

The game starts at 4:10 and will be aired on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pirate lineup: Starling Marte LF, Travis Snider RF, Andrew McCutchen CF, Garrett Jones 1B, Russell Martin C, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Clint Barmes SS and Jeff Locke P.

Everyday lineup v a RHP.

Brewer lineup: Norichika Aoki RF, Jean Segura SS, Ryan Braun LF, Aramis Ramirez 3B, Jonathan Lucroy  C, Carlos Gomez CF, Rickie Weeks 2B, Alex Gonzalez 1B and Mike Fiers P.

A stronger lineup against lefties with Lucroy and Weeks on the card.

• Matt Klaassen of Fangraphs takes a look at the "new" McCutchen.
• Travis Sawchik of the Post Gazette has his take on the 25 most valuable Bucs.
• Congrats, Charlie Morton. Charles Alfred Morton V was born Thursday morning, the Morton's first child. Charlie was back at PNC yesterday, throwing his side session. He's slated to replace Jeanmar Gomez in the rotation sometime in early June.
• Gerrit Cole takes the bump for Indy today.
• Jameson Taillon went five innings for Altoona yesterday, giving up one run (a leadoff homer) on five hits with three walks and six K, tossing an unwieldy 98 pitches. He leads the Eastern league with 63 strikeouts.
• West Virginia has some of the Bucs more promising up-and-comers. 6'7" RHP Tyler Glasnow, 19, is 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 60 K in 39 IP. Stetson Allie, 22 year old 1B and converted pitcher, is hitting .345 with 13 HR and 45 RBI. 19 year old 2B Dilson Herrera is batting .319, and OF Josh Bell, 20, has recovered nicely from 2012's lost season by hitting .278 with six HR and 38 ribbies so far.