Sunday: Reds Go For Sweep, Cole v Robert Stephenson, Lineup, Notes

Today: Familiar ground - the Bucs will try not to get swept again; the first toss at redemption is scheduled for 1:10. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: John Jaso RF, Jordan Luplow LF, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Jordy Mercer SS, Sean Rodriguez 2B, Stew C, Gerrit Cole P. September Sunday lineup.

Cole Train toes the slab (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (11-10, 4.04) tries to get that pesky ERA under four today as he takes on Robert Stephenson (4-5, 5.45). Cole Train's last start was a 5-2 loss in Milwaukee; everyone oohed and aahed over his 10 K in six innings when the important number was the five runs. Still, he's been solid, going 8-4/3.50 over his last 17 starts. Cole Train has been a road warrior, slashing 7-1/2.90 in his last nine away outings. Traditionally, he's been thoroughly El Stinko v the Reds, but this year he's been good, bad and in-between, so we could see a gem as easily as a lump of coal. Like Sal Romano yesterday, Stephenson is overcoming some early rough waters with a nice stretch starting in August. He's gone 4-1/2.97 since then, throwing strikes (60%), notching whiffs (40 in 33-1/3 IP) and holding opponents to a .218 BA with his Achilles Heel being walks/pitch counts. In that six week span, he's faced the Bucs twice and held them to three runs in 11-1/3 frames, with Cincy taking both decisions.

Notes:

• The Pirates were officially eliminated from playoff contention last night.As a sidebar, the loss left them 6-12 v the Redlegs this season.
• Starling has been out the past couple of days with a sore shoulder; he's day-to-day.
• After this afternoon's game, the Pirates head home for the start of an eight-game homestand against Milwaukee tomorrow. After a day off Thursday, the Bucs host St. Louis for three games and then close out the home schedule against Baltimore on September 26-27th after another day off on Monday.