Bucs-Reds Open 3-Game Set, Jamo v Harvey & Notes

Today: The Pirates open a brief three-game road trip against the Reds at GABP with first pitch at 7:10. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: J-Hay 2B, El Coffee RF, Cervy C, J-Bell 1B, Corey D LF, Red Beard 3B, Austin Meadows CF, Jordy SS & Jamo P. Clint's new normal with Harrison in and Marte out.

Looks like Cervy will hold down the three hole in Starling's absence (photo Pgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-3, 3.97) kicks it off against RHP Matt Harvey (0-2, 6.17). Jamo ran hot, then cold; now he's working his way back towards the top of the rotation. And it's about time; he hasn't won a game since April 8th, a whitewash victory against Cincinnati. JT has seen the Redlegs plenty in his short career and is 2-2/4.23 in eight career starts v them. Jameson tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout against them earlier this season, but went 0-2/6.20 in five starts last year. Harvey has two Reds outings since the bright lights of New York were shut off. He's gone four frames each time, shutting out the Dodgers and giving up a three-spot to the Giants. He's 1-1/5.46 against Pittsburgh in five career starts. He met the Pirates twice last year and was sharp in a 7-2 win in NY but not so much five days later in Pittsburgh when he was smacked around in a 12-7 Bucco win.

Notes:

• Family Feud time: Beginning tonight the Bucs are scheduled to play 13 straight games and 16 of their next 19 against division opponents. The Pirates have gone 10-3 against teams from the NL Central division this season, but were just 3-7 at Cincinnati's GABP in 2017.
• Colin Moran feasted during the earlier Reds series at PNC Park. He went 7-for-13 with a double and three RBIs.
• RHP Tyler Jones, 28, was released from Indy. He was a NRI who had a pretty nice spring camp, but slashed 2-1/5.40 in 12 outings for the Indians. They promoted RHP Jesus Liranzo, 23, from Altoona, a guy who was claimed from the Dodgers and has hit 100 with his heater.
• Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle has a piece on IF Alen Hanson, who the Bucs and White Sox both gave up on but is so far thriving by the Bay. 
• Congrats to Pitt - not only did they make their first ACC tourney, but won 2-1 over Georgia Tech behind a strong outing by Matt Pidich. Now they advance to meet top-seeded North Carolina in the double-elimination tournament.