Red-Bucs Third Round, Kuhl v Romano & Notes - Gregory Out

Today: The third dance on the card will start at 7:05. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet, out-of-market on MLB Network and the radio side coverage will be provided by 93.7 The Fan. It's the first Zambelli Fireworks night of the year. It's also First Responders Night, with a special ceremony to honor fallen officer Brian Shaw. His brother will throw out the first pitch. It's another chilly one with temps in the upper 30s, but at least it will be dry.

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Adam Frazier RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Elias Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS & Cool Chad P. Gregory was a late scratch; he fouled a ball off his foot last night and is feeling it today. The Pirates list him as day-to-day. Amore gets a blow with a day game on tap for tomorrow.

Eli gets the call tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-0/6.35) v RHP Sal Romano (0-1/4.50). Cool Chad was up-and-down in his first go from the mound and is still searching for some consistency. He was solid against the Reds in 2017, going 1-1/3.09 in two starts. Romano won a spot in the rotation with a strong spring performance and was workmanlike against the Nats his first time out, giving up three runs in six frames. He was tough on the Bucs last year, going 1-2 but with a strong 2.29 ERA in three starts.

Notes:

• The Pirates are 6-1 for the first time since 1976 when the club won 92 games.
• Gregory Polanco has the MLB-RBI lead with 11; Colin Moran broke into the Top 10 with eight. J-Hay is in a three-way tie for the top spot in runs scored with 10. 
• Lefty Brandon Waddell continued the farm's strong string of starts. The 23-year-old Altoona starter went 5-2/3 IP today, giving up a run on four hits with a walk and seven whiffs in a 5-1 Curve win. He's often an afterthought among Pirates upper level pitching prospects, but the Virginia grad keeps kickin' the door.
• Remember me? Petey Alvarez stroked a 14th-inning grand slam, his first since June 30th, 2012, as a Bucco, to lead the Orioles to victory over the NYY.