Locke v Teheran; Lineup & Notes

Today's Game - Jeff Locke (3-3, 5.34) vs. Julio Teheran (4-2, 4.87). Well, here we go again with the Locke Ness Monster as he gets yet another chance to hang in the rotation. This doesn't portend to finish well for Jeff. He's gone 1-2 with a 9.35 ERA in four starts on the road this season and is 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in four career starts against the Bravos. Teheran, who was once touted as a future ace, has had command issues, not necessarily with walks - tho he does issue 3.8 of those per game - but with location, and he's given up a homer every five innings so far this year as a result. But he's been good against the Bucs, going 2-0 in three career starts with a 2.77 ERA and 21 whiffs in 20 IP. He's been even better at Turner Field this year, going 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in four starts. Both pitchers have recent All-Star nods on their resume, with Locke making the 2013 squad and Teheran on last year's AS team. The game starts at 7:15 and will be on Fox Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Good or Bad Jeff today? (photo: Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Today's Lineup - Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Neil Walker 2B, Josh Harrison 3B, Pedro 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy Mercer SS, Locke P.

This may be the Bucs best lineup. El Coffee on top, Marte batting with Cutch behind him - that's a pretty strong trio of guys to get the pot boiling. 

• Call a Fireman: Pittsburgh has won five of their last six games and gone 13-4 in their last 17 games.
• Beast of the East; The Bucs have gone 9-2 overall against the NL East this season after going 21-13 in 2014.
• No June Swoon: The Pirates have posted a Major League best 71-40 (.640) record during the month of June in their five seasons under Clint Hurdle.
• If Bravo 2B Pedro Ciriaco rings a bell, it's because he was a Bucco for 2010-11, part of a deadline deal with Arizona in 2010 that brought C Chris Snyder to the Pirates. He replaced Jace Peterson last night, who had a cortisone shot in his hand.
• Well, so much for Terry Collin's ballyhooed six man rotation for the Mets - it was scrapped before it started.