Saturday: Jameson Taillon v Jimmy Nelson, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The game is scheduled for 7:10 and be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (3-3, 2.92) goes against Jimmy Nelson (7-13, 4.26) in a matchup of good young righties. With Cole Train being siderailed of late, JT is the de facto leader of the Pirates pitching pack. From the end of June til now, a span of eight starts, he's given up three earned runs just twice and gone at least six frames in every game. Jamo is 0-1 v the Brewers, but only allowed three runs in 12 IP. Nelson's had a bumpy August, but just broke a personal six-game losing streak against the Rox last outing. The Bucs haven't been able to solve him. He's 5-2, 2.55 lifetime against the Pirates and hasn't lost to them at Miller Park. Nelson last faced the Corsairs in April, picking up a win.

JT takes the ball tonight (photo Elsa/Getty)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Matt Joyce RF, Starling Marte LF, Adam Frazier 3B, Jordy SS, Eric Fryer C, Jamo P. Looks as if Josh squared will be a top-of-the-order thing for a while. Fran gets his blow today instead of tomorrow, and Clint's giving Gregory & Freeser rest days, too.

• In his last eight starts, JT has gone 2-2, 2.25. He's worked 52 IP, giving up 13 ER on 42 hits with 45 K and five walks.
• Gerrit Cole didn't throw his scheduled bullpen, so it's possible he's going to be pushed backed from his scheduled Monday start against the Cubs. It could also be that the bossmen decided to give him a brief break from throwing, too. Guess we'll see on Monday.
• Since 8/16, the week before his extension was announced but about when he took over 3B full-time, Freeser has gone 5-for-31 (.161 BA) w/13 whiffs and just one free pass. Prob doesn't hurt to let everything catch up - he's had a lot piled on his plate in the last couple of weeks.