Thursday: Jeff Locke v Chad Bettis, Lineup, Notes (Taillon Sent Down, Lobster Up. Draft Sked)

Today: The game is at 5:10 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan; it's also MLB TV's free game. This is the slush-out game, and the Pirates will fly home right after the game to continue their homestand, so rudely interrupted by this makeup. Jeff got here a day before the team to rest up and acclimate for the one-and-done.

Pitchers: Jeff Locke (5-3, 4.28) toes the rubber vs Chad Bettis (4-5, 5.58). Locke has won each of his last four starts, getting into the seventh or further in each of them and working to a 2.76 ERA during that span. He also owns a victory over Bettis and the Rox when he beat them 6-1 in April, tossing six innings of five hit shutout ball. The Bucs scored four times in 6-2/3 IP on Bettis in their first meeting. He's had a rough row lately, giving up 17 runs on 25 hits and seven walks in his last three outings, none lasting past five innings.

Jeff goes for his fifth win in a row today (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Lineup: JJ 1B, Cutch CF, El Coffee RF, Starling LF, Freeser 3B, Josh 2B, Jordy SS, Stew C, Locke P. Good to have Starling back in business; Fran gets a blow.

Here's hoping the Pirates can keep the good times rollin' against the Rox. The Pirates won the first three games played in April, and have eight straight victories at Coors Field.

• The Pirates optioned Jameson Taillon back to Indy and recalled Kyle Lobstein. We'd have preferred to keep JT and bump Juan Nicasio to the pen, but ours is not to question why... With the return ticket, Taillon can't be brought back up for 10 more days except as an injury replacement. 
• What power outage? With 100 PA minimum, the Bucs have have the #1 and #10 ranked players in MLB for slugging % - JHK is tops at .640 and El Coffee is tenth at .555, via @joe_block. Gregory also lead the league in doubles with 21.
• The Pirates pick 22nd overall in the first round of tonight's baseball draft. They also have the 41st "sandwich round" selection from the competitive balance lottery and the 68th pick of the second round. The draft begins at 7:00 on MLB Network. Tonight will be for Rounds #1-2, tomorrow #3-10, and the restocking finishes up Saturday.