Sunday, July 24, 2016

Sunday: Jameson Taillon v Vincent Velasquez, Lineup (Glasnow DL, AJ Back), Notes

Today: The game starts at 1:35 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. It's Kid's Day, and all the rugrats get a Josh Harrison wall sticker.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.44) closes the set against Vincent Velasquez (8-2, 3.15). JT's last couple of starts have been sharp (two runs, 11 hits, 0 walks & nine K in 12 IP) and he has no hangover effects from the head shot he suffered last outing. Velasquez, 24, really found himself in June, and his last four games have been strong. It should be a great matchup, with two young guys on a bit of roll banging heads.

JT looks to take the Philly series rubber match today (photo Pgh Pirates)

Lineup: JJ 1B, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Starling Marte CF, Matt Joyce RF, Josh 2B, Elias Diaz C, S-Rod SS, Taillon P. With tomorrow being an off day (and Thursday, too), Clint is giving Cutch, Fran and Jordy a nice vacation break; Jordy (94) and Cutch (92) lead the club in games played. Diaz will be making his first MLB start while Matt & S-Rod will get some at-bats during a lull in the schedule to keep them sharp.

  • The Pirates placed Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day DL with right shoulder discomfort and recalled AJ Schugel.
  • Chad Kuhl wasn't pulled yesterday as a replacement, per our usual uninformed speculation, but because he had "right tricep discomfort," the same initial diagnosis that led to Gerrit Cole missing a month. 
  • Drew Storen was DFA'ed by Toronto. We'd guess the Bucs might kick his tires to see if he could fit as a bridge guy in the pen, tho at 1-3-3/6.21 he'd be a stretch. His peripherals show an unlucky .363 BABIP and a 47% ground ball rate, tho on the other side of the pillow, he has been tagged for a bundle of long balls and his fastball velo is down a couple MPH this year.

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