Worley v Martinez, Lineup, The Kid, Vanimal's Tweak, All-Star Scouting Reports...

Vance Worley (2-1, 2.28) gets it on against Carlos Martinez (2-3, 3.91) tonight.

Vanimal has been a great pickup, and he's pitched into the seventh inning in each of his first four starts with the Pirates so far. In a small sample size, Worley isn't all that toolsy, but avoids the middle of the plate religiously without walking guys. He uses a four seamer, two seamer, slider and occasional knuckle curve to keep batters guessing. He's 0-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two career starts against the Birds, both as a member of the Phillies in 2011 and 2012.

Martinez has been in the Card pipeline for awhile, and is getting his first chance to get a regular turn in the rotation. He doesn't get deep (five innings is his longest outing) and sometimes has command issues with four+ walks per nine IP, but has a full toolbox. He throws four pitches: a two-seam fastball averaging 95, a four-seamer that's touched 100, and two off speed swing-and-miss offerings, a slider and a changeup that add up to 9K per game. This is only his fifth start for the Redbirds. The Bucs have seen him out of the pen, with mixed results.

The lineup: Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Neil Walker 2b, Russ Martin C, Ike Davis 1B, Pedro 3B, Jordy Mercer SS and Worley P.

The games starts at 8:15 and will be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

• Neil Walker brings a nine-game hitting streak into tonight’s game. He hit safely in 11 straight games earlier this season in late May.
• The Minnesota Star Tribune's Howard Sinker reported that Vance Worley said that a tweak in his mechanics from Jim Benedict is what turned the trick for him. He had developed a flaw after surgery that the Twins missed.
• Baseball America has a quick scouting report on the 2014 All-Stars; Cutch, Josh & Tony all got some BA love while on the farm.
• Ex-Bucs: Jason Grilli has made six appearances lasting five IP and faced 21 batters since joining the Angels, allowing four hits, one walk and no earned runs with five K. OF Robbie Grossman got the call from Houston to replace OF Alex Presley, who went on the DL with an oblique injury. C John Buck was DFA'ed by Seattle.