Wednesday: Pirates-Reds, Williams v Robert Stephenson, Lineup (Gregory, Dovy Back), Notes

Tonight: Game two against Cincinnati starts at 7:05. The contest will be carried by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Adam Frazier 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C & Trevor Williams P. There were a couple of roster moves in addition to determining if J-Hay was ready for action yet (he's apparently not). Ever since they said they would limit Freeser's time, he's been in every lineup. Cervy gets a day off; he's been ridden hard lately.

Trevo's turn to become a hex-buster (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Trevor Williams (4-4, 4.53) takes on Robert Stephenson (0-4, 7.86). Who'd of thunk that Trevor would be making his 16th start by bumping Tyler Glasnow out of the rotation? His last start was a no-decision in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 loss in San Francisco and he's been spinning it well at PNC lately, being charged with two earned runs or less in each of his last three home starts though he oddly hasn't won here this year. Like most Pirates pitchers, he's been a hot mess against the Reds (0-1/10.00 in four career games w/one start). Trevo has given up four runs in four IP during two relief outings this year v Cincinnati and lasted four innings in his lone start last year. This is Stephenson's third start after spending most of the year in the pen. He's another in a long line of ERA-challenged guys thrown against the Bucs and has given up eight runs on 12 hits and nine walks in 9-2/3 IP in his last two outings. Lefties are hitting him at a .346 clip and he has a 10.34 ERA on the road. Stephenson has seen the Pirates twice, both times this year, giving up four runs in 4-2/3 IP. He put up two goose eggs in April and was banged hard in May.

Notes:

• Gregory Polanco has been reinstated from the 10-day DL and Jordan Luplow has been optioned to AAA Indy. Also, Wade LeBlanc has been placed on the Bereavement List (illness in his family) and Dovydas Neverauskas has been recalled from Indy.
• Fraze went 3-for-4 last night and has cranked out nine raps (four doubles) in his last 14 at bats. He's is hitting .447 in 15 games since the All-Star break and has produced four straight multi-hit games in his last four starts.
• Pittsburgh has gone 2-7 in their last nine games. The Bucs are 20-20 against their NL Central rivals; 1-7 against the Reds and 19-13 against the rest.
• Since the second wild card was established, the fewest wins to qualify was 87. The Pirates are 51-55 and would have to go 36-20 (.643) to get to that number.
• Via @DTonPirates, the Bucs are 29th in MLB at turning fly balls into outs. Last year they were also 29th. Overall, Fangraphs has the Bucs at -9 for DRS (defensive runs saved), 10th in the NL and 20th in MLB.