Friday: Ryan Vogelsong v Matt Garza, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The first pitch is due at 8:10, and the contest will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (2-3, 2.98) and Matt Garza (4-5, 5.27) get it on. Since coming off the DL, Vogey has been a solid six-inning guy, giving up one or fewer earned runs in three of his four starts. Control has been a bit of an issue the last couple of outings, so that may bear some watching. V-Song has yet to work against the Brew Crew this year and is 4-0, 2.53 in his last six outings (five starts) against them. Garza hasn't been all that for the past couple of campaigns, though he did string together five pretty solid outings until Seattle chased him last time out. He's 1-1, 4.50 against the Buccos in 2016, lasting five frames in both games, and overall he's 3-4, 4.37 in 11 career rounds v the Pirates.

Ryan Vogelsong claims the bump tonight (photo via MLB.com)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, V-Song P. The day after he drew three walks, Josh Bell (.565 OBP) got kicked upstairs to the #2 spot in the lineup. Makes sense; Marte has done much better in the middle of the order, with a .324/.385/.520 slash from the 4/5 positions. Now if they'd just switch J-Hay (.307/.349/.412 in the seven hole this year) and Fran (.271/.377/.313 overall for the campaign, hasn't hit in the top two spots this season)...

• In six starts by Vogey, the Pirates have won three when they've scored four or more runs and lost three when they've scored three or less runs. 
• Paul Sporer of Fangraphs looks at some of the stuff that may be fueling a resurgent Ivan Nova's performance in Pittsburgh.