Lambo Sent Down, Cuts, Marte, Rotation Set, Bucs-Jays, Notes...

Cuts, Bucs - Blue Jays, Marte, Season Starting Rotation...

• Pittsburgh hosts Toronto at 1:05 today after being rained out yesterday. The game can be heard over 93.7 The Fan. The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Russ Martin C, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Jose Tabata RF, Neil Walker 2B, Jordy Mercer SS and Wandy P. Mark Melancon and Justin Wilson also are scheduled to pitch.
• Well, that's settled. Andrew Lambo was optioned to Indy, meaning Travis Ishikawa (who has to be added to the 40-man roster) has win the 1B battle. We don't think that's too bad a thing; Lambo, 25, could use some AAA time and should still be a piece of the Pirate puzzle down the road. Ishikawa is a journeyman and is just keeping the spot warm for someone - maybe even someone this season, as the Bucs are said to still be in the 1B market.
• Beside Lambo, Jared Hughes and Jaff Decker were optioned to Indianapolis. Jay Jackson, Adam Wilk, Zack Thornton, Chris Dickerson, Omir Santos, Michael Martinez, Dan Schlereth and Robert Andino were assigned to minor league camp.
• Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote that the Bucs offered Starling Marte a six-year deal that he turned down, but doesn't have the financial package.
• The Buc rotation when the season opens, health permitting: Francisco Liriano, Charlie Morton, Wandy Rodriguez, Gerrit Cole, Liriano again (following an off day) and Edinson Volquez.
• Fangraphs continues to rate teams by position. The Pirates are #6 in left field and #22 in right.
• Ryan Gaule of Bleacher Report picked his All-Time Bucco squad.
• Ex-Bucs: The Nats released C Chris Snyder. Nyjer Morgan, on the other hand, looks like he landed a spot on the Tribe roster. And Vic Black, part of last year's Marlon Byrd deal, is ready to take a spot in the Mets' bullpen, maybe with Kyle Farnsworth.