Pirates Visit Phils, Jamo v Jake & Notes

Today: The Bucs travel to Philly and Citizens Bank Park for a 7:05 game to open a four-game set. It will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. Don't sleep on the Phils; they swept the Reds and Rays before dropping a series to Atlanta; they won seven of their last nine outings.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS & Jamo P. After the veg-o-matic treatment yesterday, it's back to usual suspects today.

Fraze is back at second after a day in LF (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-0, 0.89) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (1-0, 3.38) in a pretty good match to open the set. Jamo has been the man this year; he even showed the ability to grind it out in his last outing when he struggled with his command but still shut out the Marlins over six frames. JT has tossed 15 consecutive scoreless innings; his personal best is an 18-1/3 inning streak from last year. He's 1-0/2.45 in two career starts against the Phils. He won his one start of 2017, taking a 3-0 decision at Citizens Bank Park, working five frames. Jake's Superman era appears to have passed, yay, but he's been solid for the Quakers and if there's a team he knows, it's Pittsburgh. His 20 starts against the Bucs are the most outings he's had against one club. He's record is Jekyl and Hyde-ish against Pittsburgh:  In his last eight regular season games, going back to mid-2016, the Pirates have gone 6-2 v the righthander, who has posted a 6.48 ERA over that span. In the previous eight starts (4/20/15 - 6/17/16), the Pirates went 1-7 against Jake while he put up a 0.79 ERA.

Notes:

• The Bucs had a 6-2 record against their cross-state rivals in 2017, winning 3-of-4 in both PNC and CB Parks.
• Joe Musgrove's long-awaited bullpen session will take place today. If that goes well, he's expected to toss again Sunday. The Pirates are picking up the pace a little (they originally planned three side sessions) and if both bouts are pain-free, he may go straight to a rehab assignment. 
• The Bucs, like the Pens, have a dad's trip. The paps gathered in Pittsburgh yesterday to root on their boys and will accompany the club to Philly; 20 are making the trip.
• And already the first MLB head has rolled - Bryan Price was axed as manager by the Reds after a 3-15 start; Jim Riggleman is his interim replacement.