Tuesday: Bucs Visit the Birds, Nova v Kevin Gausman, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The quick two-gamer starts in Oriole Park at Camden Yards at 7:05 and will be on MLB Network (out-of-market), Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. The Orioles are on the north side of .500 at 29-26 and like the Bucs they're 3-1/2 games out in their division with a mess of teams between them and the top. Both clubs have been sputtering at the even-steven mark in the past week or two. The O's still swing from the heels - they're MLB Top Ten in homers & whiffs and near the bottom in walks, so keeping them in the yard is pretty much the key to success.

Lineup: Adam Frazier LF,, Josh Harrison 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Josh Bell DH, Cutch CF, John Jaso 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy Mercer SS (Ivan Nova P). The A-Team (Gregory's back) with a DH for those who groan every time the pitcher comes up with runners on.

Ivan's tossing tonight (image Positively Pittsburgh)

Pitchers: Ivan Nova (5-4, 2.92) takes on Kevin Gausman (3-4, 5.92) to open the set. In the past couple of games, Ivan has tossed six very efficient and excellent innings and then run out of gas, so hopefully Clint will keep an eye on him based on the frame rather than pitch count. He has won two of his last three decisions and four of his last six. As an old Yankee, he and the Birds have a history with Nova going 8-4/5.01 in 17 outings (16 starts). Ivan won his two NYY starts against the O’s in 2016, claiming a not-so-well pitched 8-6 game but also earning a solid 2-1 win. Gausman was a bit of a dumpster fire to begin the season, but has put together decent starts in his last three trips to the bump. He's had problems this year with walks (four per game) and homers (1.5/nine; he's traditionally served up lots of souvenirs), a trend the Bucs hope to exploit. The Baltimore righty has been better with run-prevention at home, where he misses more bats and has a more livable HR rate although his other peripherals don't show much of a split. He's never worked against the Pirates.

Notes:

• Here's hopin' Freeser is snapping out of his recent ice age. He had three hits and three RBI Sunday for his first three-ribby game since 6/26/16 and second three-hit game of the campaign.
• Travis Sawchik of Fangraphs looks at Andrew, his woes, what's fueling his recent resurgence and future.
• Stew caught a bullpen session today and did some running as he rehabs from a quad injury that has him on the DL.

Pretty park but not very hospitable... (photo Ballparks of Baseball)

• The Bucs haven't had much luck at Camden Yards. They're are 0-5 in the last five meetings in Baltimore and 1-6 in the last seven outings dating back to 2008.
• Going back to May 18th, a span of 17 games, the Pirates offense has been schizophrenic. They've scored nine or more runs five times and two or less seven times.
• 26-year-old Casey Sadler has been called to Indy. On the comeback trail after missing last season due to October 2015 TJ surgery, the righty went 2-0/0.75 tossing at High-A Bradenton with 14 K in 12 IP. He threw for the Bucs in 2014-15, going 1-1/6.46 in limited (seven games, 15-1/3 IP) action and was 17-9/3.95 during that span as a starter at Indy.