Cole Train v Lance Lynn; Lineup (Marte Still Out; Ishy In) & Notes

Today's Game - It's a marquee matchup between Gerrit Cole (12-3, 2.28) and Lance Lynn (6-4, 2.53) tonight. Cole leads the major leagues in wins while Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last six starts. Cole Train, meanwhile, is 7-1 with a 2.19 ERA in his last nine starts. He's faced the Cards four times, all last year, and slashed 1-2/3.42, giving up two or less runs in three of the outings.

Ishy gets a start in left tonight (photo Keith Srakocic/AP)

Lynn came off the DL a couple of weeks ago, and has gone 2-0 in three starts since, giving up three runs (1.59 ERA) in 17 IP on 14 hits with 20 K, so we'd say he's recovered. He has one no-decision against the Bucs this year when he and AJ hooked up in a game that STL eventually won 2-1 in 10 innings. But the Pirates usually do OK v Lynn; his career line in 5-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 16 outings (14 starts) against Pittsburgh. And Lynn won't have to deal with two players who have given him trouble historically, with Starling Marte (8-for-21) and Josh Harrison (7-for-19) both out.

The game will start at 7:05 and be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. And today's drizzle is supposed to be it, at least for the Cardinal series. The ground crew deserves a beer after the last couple of home stands - the Pirates have already had over 14 hours of PNC Park rain delay time this season.

Today's Lineup - Gregory Polanco RF, Neil Walker 2B, Cutch CF, Jung-Ho Kang 3B, Jordy Mercer SS, Pedro 1B, Travis Ishikawa LF, Stew C, Cole P.

Stew is in with Cole Train on the mound and Starling is supposedly available of the bench tonight. Ishy is in left, so the lineup is a little more alien than usual.

• Cutch's 16 game hitting streak is the longest streak by a Pittsburgh player since Neil Walker hit safely in 17 consecutive games in 2012.
• Mark Melancon has 98 career saves, 77 as a Pirate. That puts him behind just ElRoy Face (188), Teke (158), Mike Williams (140),  Dave Giusti (133) and Joel Hanrahan (82) on the Pirate leaderboard. Tony Watson has quietly become the franchise top dog in holds with 101, easily surpassing Scott Sauerbeck's 86.  
• Matt Eddy of Baseball America has an updated report on the Bucs' brightest prospects.