Volquez v Buchanan, Lineup (Josh Is Back) , Lookin' For Five, Brotherly Love, Ground Chuck

Edinson Volquez (11-7, 3.31) faces David Buchanan (6-7, 3.95) tonight.

Eddie has been the man this year. He leads the team in starts, IP, and wins, and has basically been the rotation's glue man. Edinson didn't allow a run in his last start against the Cards tho he got a no decision in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 walkoff loss. He's won seven of his last eight decisions, and we're hoping his balloon doesn't burst anytime soon.

Volquez has been tough against the Phils. He's 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in five career starts and been charged with one earned run or fewer in four of those five starts. This year he allowed one run in seven innings while winning a 3-2 decision against Buchanan at PNC Park on 7/5.

The 25-year-old Buchanan is a rookie who has twice replaced the creaky Cliff Lee in the Philly rotation. He's auditioning for a back-end spot in the 2015 Philadelphia staff, and doing a decent job. The youngster has a good ground ball rate with decent control, and his six K per game will play as the four-five guy. He features a low-nineties heater, a power curve and a show-me change up. Buchanan has been involved in three straight no-decisions, so at least he's keeping the Phils in games even if he hasn't won personally since August 6th.

He lasted six innings, about his norm, against the Bucs in July, losing 3-2 to Volquez. Buchanan was charged with all three Pirate tallies giving up six hits, a walk, HBP and K'ing three. The telling blow against him was a two-run shot by Cutch.

The Lineup: Josh Harrison 3B, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Neil Walker 2B, Russ Martin C, Ike Davis 1B, Gregory Polnaco RF, Jordy Mercer SS and Volquez P. Pretty normal lineup.

The game starts at 7:05 and will available on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

• Strive for Five: Tonight is the Pirates sixth chance to win five in a row; they haven't cashed in on the first five.
• A Little Brotherly Love: The Pirates have won four straight and six of their last seven games in Philadelphia. Overall, the Pirates are 4-0 against the Phillies this season.
• Swatting: The Buccos have out-scored the Phillies 23-10 in the four games this season. Pittsburgh has also gone deep in 11 consecutive games here at Citizens Bank with 15 home runs total, dating back to July 30th, 2011 while averaging 4.8 runs per game during that 11-game stretch.
• Plugging Away: Charlie Morton hasn't packed it in yet. He pitched a sim game today, though we're not really certain why. We can't see him coming back in the next three weeks unless it's in the pen, which seems fairly well stocked about now.