Saturday: Pirates at Cubs, Nova v Jake Arrieta, Lineup, Notes (AB DFA'ed, Goose Back)

Tonight: Hey, a Saturday night game in Chicago with first pitch due at 7:15 PM. Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan will carry the action.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, John Jaso LF, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy Mercer SS & Ivan Nova P. We know Josh has been struggling, but sitting a guy on his birthday? It's not like Fraze is on a roll. Boo, Clint.

HBD J-Hay! (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Ivan Nova (8-6, 3.24) faces Jake Arrieta (8-6, 4.33). The 30-year-old Nova has returned to earth after a Cy Young start, but has won seven of his last 11 decisions and gone at least six innings in 16 of his first 17 starts. He's taken on the Cubs once this year. Ivan surrendered two home runs but won a 4-3 decision over Jake Arrieta in June at PNC Park. In two starts vs. the Pirates this year, he is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA. Arrieta is winless (0-3, 7.81 ERA) in his past five starts against the Pirates. It was karma with a kick - in the previous nine regular season games before this recent stretch, Jake was 7-1/0.86 ERA against the Bucs. Hopefully, now that they have his number, Pittsburgh won't lose it.

Notes:

• LHP Antonio Bastardo was DFA'ed and IF Phil Gosselin was brought up.
• Today is J-Hay's 30th birthday; hopefully he celebrates by getting through a game without a new bruise.

J-Bell banged his first long ball against the Cubs (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates) 

• Good memories: It was one year ago today Josh Bell made his MLB debut, delivering a seventh-inning pinch-hit single against Chicago’s Jake Arrieta on the first pitch he saw and scoring later in the frame during an 8-4 Bucco victory at PNC Park. One night later, Bell connected off Chicago’s Adam Warren for a pinch-hit grand slam in his second at bat to become the first Pittsburgh player whose first big league homer was a granny since Enrique Romo in 1980.
• With the signing deadline yesterday, the Bucs had 37 of their 42 picks inked to a deal. They missed out on #12 Hunter Wolfe (SS, JC), #29 Brock Deatheridge (OF, Jr.), #36 Ryan Hoerter (RHP, HS), #39 Michael Gretler (3B, Jr.) and #40 Tyler Osik (3B, Jr.).