Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Wednesday: Cole Train v Zach Davies, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The game begins at 7:05 and will be on AT&T Sportsnet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Cutch CF, Jose Osuna 1B, David Freese 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy Mercer SS & Gerrit Cole P. J-Bell gets a day off; he's only sat down once this season for an entire game.

All aboard the Cole Train (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (7-7, 4.35) is on the bump against Zach Davies (11-4, 5.08). Gerrit will be making his 20th start of the season tonight. He's gone 4-1/3.38 over his last six starts and has already matched his win and strikeout total from last year (seven wins and 98 punchouts). The righty is 3-3/3.16  in nine career starts against the Brew Crew. He's been sharp against them this season, slashing 1-0/1.23 ERA in two starts and giving up just two runs in 15 IP. Davies record shows the absurdity of wins. He's backed by nearly 6.5 runs per game from his lineup, the second-highest total in baseball. In two starts vs. the Pirates this year, Davies is 1-1/7.59. He pitched well in May, winning 6-2 and then was run off the mound in a 7-3 June whipping.

Notes:
  • Yahoo Brew Crew: Amore has hit safely in all five games that he's played against Milwaukee this season (8-for-19, .421) and in seven of his last eight against the Brewers dating back to last season (11-for-29, .379).
  • It's JJ's turn to swing a cold bat - he's in an 0-for-18 slump.
  • Pittsburgh has won three straight games, six of their last seven and nine of their last 11. The Buccos have won three straight series and have gone 5-1-1 in their last seven

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