Bucs-Bums, Willy v Ferguson & Notes

Today: First pitch is at 7:05. The game will be aired by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (5-3, 3.84) v LHP Caleb Ferguson (0-0, 0.00). Willy has had a god-awful May. Even with a shutout in mid-May, he's given up 20 runs in 32-2/3 IP (5.51 ERA), with six homers surrendered in that span. Hopefully June will start him off with a clean slate for the rest of the season. He was hot and cold in his two 2017 starts against the Dodgers - he gave up six runs in the first inning of a loss in LA, then threw eight frames of scoreless ball later in the year at PNC Park. Ferguson is making his MLB debut. He features a low nineties fastball that he likes to keep up in the zone and a slow, big-breaking curve that he uses for a chase pitch along with a show-me change. The 21-year-old posted 3-0/1.53 in 10 starts between AA Tulsa and AAA Oklahoma City (two starts - eight IP), with 52 strikeouts and 17 walks in 47 innings.

Willy on the hill (image AT&T SportsNet)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Austin Meadows RF, Starling Marte CF, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, David Freese 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Sean Rodriguez SS, Williams P. Jordy is still bug-bitten while Gregory (OF rotation + southpaw) & J-Bell (2-for-21 in his last six games) get to sit down. But we do get to see Red Beard against a lefty, so there's that. Cervy is starting a game at cleanup for the first time in his career; he's found himself in that spot for two at-bats so far in his 11 MLB seasons.

Notes:

• Willy is more effective at home, going 3-2/3.67 even tho his last two PNC outings haven't been very strong. He's only walked six and given up two long balls in six starts at the North Shore.
• The Bucs are 1-7 in the past eight matches against LA. The Pirates have dropped three straight games, eight of their last 10, and gone 4-13 in their last 17 games. They risk dropping under .500 for the first time this year tonight.
• If the Pirates are sellers at the deadline, Nathan Hurst of Pirates Breakdown takes a look at the shiny Bucco baubles and which clubs could be interested.
• Jung-Ho Kang is playing shortstop again for Bradenton, for the fourth time in five games. We're guessing it's not an agility drill but to see if he can be plugged into a utility role if he makes it back to show.