Tuesday: Cubbies & Bucs, Brault v Kyle Hendricks, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: Chicago and Pittsburgh meet for round two at 7:05. AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan will air the Pup Night game.

Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Max Moroff 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Jordan Luplow RF, Elias Diaz C, Jordy Mercer SS, Steven Brault P. Hmmm..four starts in a row for Eli; wonder if that's a new thing for Clint or if Stew's a little banged up?

Steven gets his first starting call of the campaign (image Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Steven Brault (0-0, 5.93) makes his first start of the year against Kyle Hendricks (6-4, 3.32). The young Bucco lefty will be making seventh appearance and he'll become the first Pirates lefty to start a game this season after 138 straight RHP's. He was the International League's top gun and Pitcher of the Year for Indy, but so far hasn't been quite as aggressive against MLB hitters; it may be a learning curve or just a matter of getting use to the pen after taking the ball every fifth day in AAA. His last couple of outings are kinda foreboding - on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field he gave up four runs while getting just three outs, and before that was charged with three runs (zero earned) in two IP Monday night during the same series. Hendricks has gone 2-1/2.31 in eight starts since returning from the disabled list on July 24th, and hasn't given up over three runs in any of those matches. He's making his 10th career start vs. the Pirates (4-2/3.21) and held the Bucs scoreless in three of his last four outings. This is his third start against Pittsburgh this season; he's 1-1/2.45 with a shutout win and 4-2 loss so far, both in April.

Notes:

• And to answer yesterday's burning question, the Pirates confirmed the reported four-year contract extension for Clint Hurdle and announced the same for GM Neal Huntington.
• The last Pirates rookie with more RBI than Josh Bell (82) was Maurice Van Robays (116) in 1940.
• Well that was quick: S-Rod has already played seven different positions in 23 games as a Bucco this season. He's been everywhere except pitcher/catcher.
• Four of Pittsburgh’s last six victories have been whitewashes. Among MLB teams this season, only the Indians (16) and Dodgers (14) have recorded more shutouts than the Pirates (11).
• J-Hay is the Pirates 2017 Roberto Clemente Award nominee.
• Altoona's Austin Coley has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week after tossing 14 scoreless IP in two starts.
• Mark Melancon will need surgery to help release a muscle; the procedure is called a "matter of when, not if."