Monday - Pirates & Cubs, Trevo v Mike Montgomery, Lineup (Hi JL & Dovy, Bye Fraze & JB), Notes

Tonight: The first pitch at Wrigley Field will be delivered at 8:05. AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan will air the contest.

Lineup: S-Rod 2B, Jose Osuna RF, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Starling Marte LF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C, Trevor Williams P. S-Rod & Joey O batting one-two with Freeser & Starling hitting five-six, which thumbs the nose at our old-school sensibilities. We're assuming J-Hay has a scheduled off day, tho we sorta thought this series would be all-hands-on-deck.

Trevo toes the slab tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Trevor Williams (5-6, 4.40) opens against lefty Mike Montgomery (4-6, 3.43) Trevo ran between some raindrops last outing but got back on track by trading zeroes with Rich Hill for eight frames. He does have some history to overcome - he's considerably worse pitching on the road (4-4, 4.85) and he's 1-1/5.25 in four career appearances (two starts) against the Cubbies, all coming this year. Montgomery will make his second start in place of the injured Jon Lester. He's fit right in, going 2-0 with only one run allowed in 10-1/3 IP (0.87 ERA) in two outings (one in relief, one start) as his replacement. His success has been fueled mainly by a 59% ground ball rate. Monty has faced the Pirates three times from the pen this year, giving up two runs in five IP with four hits, four walks (he can be wild) and four K.

Notes:

• The Pirates have brought back OF Jordan Luplow and RHO Dovydas Neverauskas. Fraze went to the DL (right hammy strain) and Johnny Barbato was optioned back to Indy.
• Don't boo Stew - he's posted a team-best 3.70 catcher’s ERA this season and has been behind the plate for six of the team’s last seven shutouts.

Stew has shepherded his flock well this year (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• The Pirates have used the fewest starting pitchers (six) in the MLB this year after using 14 different starters last season. The club record for fewest starting pitchers used in one season is seven (1902, 1972 and 1997).
• Indy IF Erich Weiss was named the International League Player-of-the-Week for the week of August 21-27 after hitting .462 with 3 homers, 8 RBI and 9 runs scored. Weiss is the fifth member of the Indians to earn the honor this season, joining LHP Steven Brault (May 15-21 and August 7-13), RHP Tyler Glasnow (July 24-30), INF/OF Joey Terdoslavich (July 13-16) and infielder Jason Rogers (May 15-21).
• With one week left to play, Indy is in first place with a 6-1/2 game lead and Altoona is in first place with a one game lead. With nine games left, Indy's magic number is three. Altoona can clinch a playoff spot as early as today, as the top two teams in the division advance to the Eastern League postseason.
• Bradenton Marauders OF Logan Hill (.266 - 16 HR), SS Cole Tucker (.285 - 36 SB), and RHP Pedro Vasquez (9-6/3.37, 1.152 WHIP) have been named End-of-Season All Stars by the High Class A Florida State League.