Third Time the Charm? Bucs Hope So - Williams v Julio Teheran, Lineup (Cutch Off Today), Notes

Tonight: The Bucs and Braves take their third spin around the dance floor tonight at Sun Trust with the first toss at 7:35. The game will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Trevor will poke his finger in the dam tonight (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, John Jaso RF, Jordy Mercer SS, Danny Ortiz CF, Chris Stewart C & Trevor Williams P. Cutch is off; before we get breathless, best to see if this is just a day to recharge or something else. After all, he has been in 45-of-46 games; on the other side of that pillow, he's hitting .200. Danny has played lots of center and outside of Andrew is the only guy left on the roster that can legitimately man the position. Remember when the Pirates used to start three center fielders way back in...April?

Pitchers: Trevor Williams (2-3, 6.04) toes the rubber against Julio Teheran (3-4, 5.47). So, Trevor Willams, stopper? The Bucs hope so. Trevor was tossed into the fire and has responded with a couple of decent outings after a first-time beatdown. This is his fourth start of the campaign and now he looks like he's stretched out (93 pitches, 5-2/3 IP last outing) after spending the early season in the pen. Williams is the classic "put the ball in play" guy; he counts on location rather than sheer stuff. He often works without much of a safety net that way - he had zero whiffs last outing with six Ks in 13-2/3 IP total as a starter. Trevor worked two innings against the Braves earlier in the year, giving up one hit and whiffing three in one of his better outings. Julio has sprinkled some stinkers along with some gems this year as he can't seem to find his usual groove; he's been hit pretty well in three of his last four games. But one of his stronger efforts came against the Bucs in April when he went seven innings and gave up two unearned runs on six hits in an eventual 6-5 loss. He's been solid against the Pirates in his career, slashing 3-1/3.00 in eight outings (seven starts).

And today's CF'er, Danny Ortiz (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Notes:

• J-Hay has a five game hitting streak. Last night, he collected his 600th career hit with the first of his three knocks.
• JJ has reached base safely in nine straight games and has back-to-back multi hit games.
• Jordy has a .325 OBP, third among NL shortstops.
• Johnny Barbato has quietly tossed five straight scoreless outings.