Phils-Bucs, Brault v Nola & Notes

Today: The opening pitch is slated for 4:05 with the game carried by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: S-Rod 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS & Steven Brault P. S-Rod slips into second today.

Steven Brault toes the slab today (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (2-1, 4.74) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-1, 2.22). Brault has given up nine runs in his past 11 innings. His problem early on is putting people away; even when he gets ahead in the count, he nibbles rather than attacks - he has just four whiffs in those two games. Steven has faced the Quakers just once as a reliever in 2016 and was pummeled. Nola is an ace-in-the-making; he hasn't given up more than two runs in any start and has a sub-one WHIP. Once he pumps up his swing-and-miss stuff a little, normalizing to his 2016-17 numbers, he'll be in full beast mode. Last year he was brutal on the Bucs with a 1-1/0.64 line, giving up eight hits in 14 IP with 13 K; Steven will have his hands full hanging with Nola today.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh has lost four of its last five games. The common thread in those losses is that the Bucs have scored two or fewer runs in each defeat. They've sputtered of late at the dish, having scored two or fewer runs in six of their last eight matches while the pitching has turned it around - Bucco spinners have posted a 2.96 ERA/.199 opp BA in the same span.
• Starling Marte recorded the 56th assist of his career last night during a rundown (it's usually a gundown). Since 2012, Marte ranks fourth among all outfielders in the Majors behind Yoenis Cespedes (65), Gerardo Parra (63) and Alex Gordon (60) in OF assists.
• The Pirates went 18 games with the starters going five or more innings before Jamo was short-circuited. Ivan began a new streak last night; it'll be interesting to see how long this one runs.