Worley v Farmer, Lineup (Pedro DH, Still No Neil), Josh, Even Up, Barmes...

Vance Worley (5-1, 2.30) goes against rookie righty George "Buck" Farmer (0-0, 0.00).

Vance Worley has been huge pick-me-up for the Pirate rotation. He's given up just three earned runs in his last four starts (28 IP), good for an 0.96 ERA and three wins. Vanimal does it by location and mixing up his bag of tricks, and so far, so good. He'll need all his wiles tonight. He's 0-2 with a 7.49 ERA against Detroit in two career starts. His latest outing against them was last year as a Twin, when he was handed a 6-1 loss.

Buck Farmer, 23, is making his MLB debut. The 2013 fifth rounder out of Georgia Tech has made two AA starts, which is the highest level he's reached (until tonight). Buck was 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 18 starts this season for Single-A West Michigan, then went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts for Double-A Erie. He's starting in place of Rick Porcello, whose next start will be pushed back to Friday after he pitched Sunday in relief.

The 6-4, 225 lb righty Farmer throws his fastball at 92-94 MPH, and uses a slider as a second pitch along with a change. He's said to be a strike thrower (127 whiffs and 28 walks in 115-2/3 minor league IP this year) and a guy that keeps the ball down.

The lineup: Josh Harrison 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Russ Martin C, Ike Davis 1B, Starling Marte CF, Pedro DH, Jordy Mercer SS, Travis Snider LF & Jayson Nix 2B (Worley P). Pedro gets a couple of swings; The Kid doesn't start for the eighth timed since his back acted up; bet the Bucs are sorry they sent him up to pinch hit now.

The game will start at 7:08 and be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

• With four plate appearances last night, Josh became a qualified hitter and now is third among all NL batters with a .318 batting average, ahead of Cutch who is fourth with a .311 average BA. Harrison also ranks first in batting average with RISP (.349), road batting average (.337) and sixth in slugging percentage (.510).
• Each of the last four games the two clubs have played at Comerica Park have been decided by one run, with the teams splitting the results.
• Clint Barmes will start his rehab Wednesday at Altoona and is also slated to get some some games in at Indy before being activated. He has been on the DL since June 30th with a strained left groin.