Sunday, April 17, 2016

Sunday: Nicasio v Davies, Lineup, Notes

Today: It's a 1:35 Kid's Day game, aired on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. It's also Josh Harrison gnome giveaway day.

Pitchers: Juan Nicasio (1-1, 5.00) closes the set against Zach Davies (0-0, 0.00). It's been good Juan, bad Juan so far as Nicasio tries to get back into a starter's groove. He faced the Brewers once for two innings in 2015, putting up a zero and whiffing four, with a 2-0/1.20 slash in his four career outings versus Milwaukee.

Which Juan will we get? (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)


Davies, 23, went 3-2/3.71 in 2015. He was 0-1 in two starts against Pittsburgh, as the Bucs lit him up for 10 runs in eight innings on 10 hits with six whiffs and eight walks. A guy with control issues against a patient club like Pittsburgh would be expected to have some problems. But Davies only walked two in nine AAA innings this year, so he may be on speaking terms with the strike zone now. He was called up for today's game because this is the first time this season that the Brew Crew has needed a fifth starter.

Lineup: John Jaso 1B, Cutch CF, David Freese 3B, Matt Joyce RF, Fran Cervelli C, Gregory Polanco LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy Mercer SS, Nicasio P. Marte's hand was an issue, so he's getting what amounts to a two-day break. But with a day off tomorrow, we'd have thought Clint would take the opp to give Fran a blow, catching a day-following-night game. Guess he didn't want two bats out today.

Expect to see a change or two after the game. The Pirates have been a bat short during this string of quick hooks, but with Frankie back on the bar stool, the odds are that Jason Rogers will come up to take Michael Morse's spot. We're guessing the Lobster, who has an option, will get sent to Indy.

  • JJ enters today on a seven game hitting streak. 
  • Good news - both Jared Hughes and Jung Ho Kang are expected to start their Indy rehab stints this week.
  • The Buccos are breaking out their seventies throwback look today with yellow tops, black pants and the pillbox cap.
  • David Laurila of Fangraphs has a Clint - JR comparison as his column's lead piece. Might surprise you a bit...

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