Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Max Moroff 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, John Jaso RF, Elias Diaz C, Jordy Mercer & Ivan Nova. We're surprised that Freeser isn't getting a blow; he's 0-for-11 with seven K in his last three games.
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| Ivan took a break while looking to get back on track (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Pitchers: Ivan Nova (11-12, 4.11) vs. Michael Wacha (11-7, 4.21 ERA). Ivan's coming off a break, missing a start to see if he and Uncle Ray can get his pitches down. He went 9-6/3.21 ERA in 18 starts before the All-Star break but 2-6/6.37 in eight starts since and is 0-6 in his last six road starts; he hasn't won a road bout since July 8th. Nova has faced the Redbirds twice this year, losing 2-1 and then taking a 6-3 decision in the Little League Classic. Wacha has given up three or more runs in five of his last six starts so he's been another quality start kinda guy. He's gone against the Bucs twice this year, winning 2-1 in April and losing 6-4 (four IP, five runs, seven hits, two homers) in August. So this lines up to be a shootout if the Bucs can find their bats.
Notes:
- The Pirates recalled P's Johnny Barbato, Tyler Glasnow, Jack Leathersich, Dan Runzler & Edgar Santana along w C Jacob Stallings. Runzler needed added to the 40-man roster so the Pirates put Josh Harrison on the 60-day DL. The big surprise: P Nick Kingham was on everyone's recall list; looks like with Glasnow and Steven Brault that the Pirates just ran out of available innings.
- Fraze has 13 hits in his last 24 at bats (.542) with RISP after going 1-for-2 last night. Since the All-Star break, Adam is batting .339 (40-for-118) overall.
- Cutch is one of five active players who have hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last seven seasons. The others are Nelson Cruz (9 years), Jose Bautista & Giancola Stanton (8 years) and Adam Jones (seven years).
- Nova is at 168-2/3 IP on the year, just two innings shy of eclipsing his single-season career high with the Yankees in 2012.
Wow, no Kingham recall?! I certainly didn't see that one coming. While he hasn't exactly been a terminator in his minor league career, Kingham has been very consistent, and this year was probably his strongest ever. I don't know what the guy has to do to get a look in Pittsburgh, I really don't. Especially with the team out of it. If it were up to me, I'd sit Taillon, Nova, and Polanco for the rest of the season and get them some rest and then some concentrated rehab, training and conditioning. Then (looking at you, Polanco and Austin Meadows) I'd revamp their nutrition and get them into winter ball so they hit the ground running in Spring Training.
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