Cole Train v Mike Leake; Lineup & Notes

Today's Game - Gerrit Cole (14-7, 2.61) takes on Mike Leake (9-6, 3.52) in the third game of the set. Cole Train has lost his last three decisions since his last win in July; the Cubs' Jake Arrieta has passed him up in the victory column with 15. Cole has a win over the G-Men this year, having defeated Ryan Vogelsong, and is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA in three career starts.

Leake is a recent pick up for SF, coming over from Cincinnati. Since July, his ERA has been a tiny 1.49 and his trademark sinker has produced a 52% groundball rate during the year. The Bucco edge may be some rust; he's only tossed once for the Bay club, having been on the DL with a hammy tweak since 8/2. But he's 3-0 against Pittsburgh this year as a Red, and is 8-3/3.07 in 23 career starts v the Pirates. The game starts at 4:05 and will be aired by Fox Sports 1, Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Josh is back in the lineup today (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Today's Lineup - Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Jung-Ho Kang SS, Neil Walker 2B, Josh Harrison 3B, Pedro 1B, Stew C, Cole P.

Well, that didn't last long; Stew is back to catching for Gerrit. Josh is back in the lineup, too; as Cole is somewhat surprisingly a 50% ground ball guy. Josh also hits .273 against Leake with a .788 OPS; A-Ram just .167 with a .405 OPS.

• The bullpen has been tested often lately and answered the bell in style. The relievers have posted a 1.04 ERA and 42 strikeouts over the last 11 games, working 43-1/3 IP.
• Jordy is scheduled to make one more Indy rehab start (noon game); he should rejoin the club tomorrow if all goes according to plan. 
• Even wonder about the faces of a team, as in Yadier Molina, Joey Votto and company having been around forever? Here's the list of the longest tenured players on their original team; we'd guess everyone knows the Bucco lifers are Cutch and The Kid.
• DH? Mad Bum became the first pitcher to belt five homers in a season since Carlos Zambrano had six in 2006. Bumgarner went deep in his last outing, too, making him the first pitcher since Alex White in 2012 to have back-to-back starts with home runs.
• The Mets' Yoenis Cespedes tied an old Willie Stargell NL standard. He became the third player to collect at least five hits with three HRs, seven RBI and a stolen base in a game since Pops in 1968 (v the Cubs) and the White Sox' Carl Reynolds in 1930 (v the Yankees) per @EliasSports.