Sunday: Gerrit Cole v Hector Santiago, Lineup (Cutch, Fran Out), Notes

Today: The close out begins at 1:35 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. The Pirates are looking to take the series with a victory in the rubber match. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't look all that promising; maybe the gray skies are God's way of letting the Bucco bruises heal up.

Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.72) meets Hector Santiago (3-3, 4.96). Cole Train has been rolling recently. Although he's given up some hits and not piled up many whiffs, he's 2-1/1.37 in his past four games. Santiago has given up 14 HR in 61-1/3 IP, with seven leaving the yard in his last three starts, which have lasted just 11-1/3 frames. Only three of his 11 outings have been quality starts, and this is from a guy who was a 2015 All-Star but has been pretty much in meltdown mode since. Caveat emptor - he can bring it on a good day, as two of his three QS have been two hit shutouts. So we'll see if Jekyll or Hyde shows up today.

Cole Train is slated to take the hill (image Positively Pittsburgh)

Lineup: Jordy SS, Josh 2B, El Coffee LF, JHK 3B, Starling CF, S-Rod 1B, Matt Joyce RF, Stew C, Cole Train P. Interesting that Cutch gets a blow against a lefty, but not surprising that Fran and Freeser are on the pine; we're not sure that David is even available for action today.

Looked up a couple of fun facts: DYK that...

• In 10 starts, Gerrit Cole has given up more than three runs in an outing just once? 
• In 26 appearances, Mark Melancon has been scored on in just four of them?
• In 51 starts, Starling Marte has gone back-to-back games without a hit just twice?
• In 49 starts, Josh Harrison has 18 multi-hit games?
• In 11 games as the lead off hitter (10 starting), Jordy is slashing .304/.360/.435 w/seven runs?
• In 18 PA against southpaws, LH Matt Joyce's line is .357/.500/.643?