Jay v Lance Lynn; Lineup & Notes

Today's Game - JA Happ (10-8, 3.88; 6-2, 2.28 with the Pirates) starts the soiree off against Lance Lynn (12-10, 3.16). Jay's been a blessing to the staff since his deadline acquisition. His last start was a 6-3 win in Colorado Tuesday and he's won six of his last seven decisions. Happ has gone 1-0 in one start this year against the Redbirds, giving up three hits over seven scoreless innings while winning a 9-3 decision . But overall, he's not been so hot, having lost each of his previous six starts vs. St. Louis with an overall 2-8/6.00 slash.

Jay Happ opens the three game set against the Cards tonight (photo Gene Puskar/AP)

Lance looked bullpen-bound for the playoffs after three shaky starts in a row, but found his fastball command against the Reds last time out, tossing six goose eggs. Lynn stopped the Bucs in April 2-1, tho he didn't get the decision. He was treated rudely by the Pirates in his next two starts, losing 5-2 and 10-5. Overall, he's 5-5/5.00 v the Buccos in 18 career outings.

Pittsburgh pretty much needs a sweep to unseat the Cards in the division. And it's certainly within the realm of possibility: the Cardinals have not won a series at PNC Park since April, 2012. The game starts at 7:05 and will be on ESPN 2, Root Sports, and 93.7 The Fan.

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

First team, as expected, except A-Ram's been swapped out for Josh at the hot corner; Harrison is a liftime .368 hitter v Lynn with a 1.000 OPS, in a small sample of 19 AB.

• The Bucs are 8-8 against the Cardinals this season, going 5-2 at home. Overall, the Pirates are 50-25 at home in 2015, the third straight season in which they've hit the 50-win mark at PNC Park.
• Bobby LaFromboise has quietly turned into a pretty effective LOOGY. He's unscored upon in eight appearances (6-2/3 IP),  striking out eight and stranding all eight of his inherited runners.
• The Pirates have six games left, all at home, and are about 140,000 fans shy of setting a new attendance record for PNC Park. 
• For magic number fans: the Cards magic number to clinch first against the Pirates is four, while the Buccos magic number to guarantee home field against the Cubs in the wild card is three.