Jay v Chris Rusin; Lineup (Starling, Jordy Out) & Notes

Today's Game - JA Happ (2-1, 2.08) tales on Chris Rusin (4-6, 4.97) in a Saturday battle of the lefties. Jay appeared to be an emergency patch for the rotation after AJ's injury, but a little more emphasis on a downward plane has him riding a three-game, 17-1/3 IP stretch during which he's allowed but one run. Sometimes NH is smarter than the average bear. He's 1-0/1.93 against Colorado lifetime (three starts, four games), nice but meaningless as he hasn't faced the Rox since 2011.

Colorado picked up Rusin off waivers from the Cubs during the off season, and he's been pretty solid (his ERA ballooned after his last outing when the Mets absolutely murdered him). He's a pitch-to-contact guy, and location is his game - when he stays down in the zone, he gets lots of weak contact. The game starts at 7:05 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Starling is out; probably a maintenance day. So is Jordy, who is pretty strong against lefties. Guess we're gonna see a lot of permutations in the lineup with Clint's shiny super bench.

• Pittsburgh’s relievers have won 19 straight decisions coming into tonight’s action, a step closer to the record of 22 straight decisions held by the 1909 Bucs.
• The Pirates have posted an 18-7 record this month, the most wins for the club in the month of August since 1992, when they went 19-8.
• Elias Says: Gregory Polanco knocked out three hits, scored two runs and drove in another, stole a base, and threw out two base runners including one on right-field-to-home-plate double play last night. You have to go back 91 years to find the last major-league outfielder who had a game in which he did all that, Hall of Famer Bob Meusel. While playing for the Yankees at Detroit on June 12th, 1924, Long Bob sparked a 10-4 victory with his performance.