NY-Pgh Take A Second Spin w/Chad v Matz & Notes

Today: The game starts at 7:10 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Chad Kuhl (5-5, 4.56) starts round two of the set against LHP Steven Matz (3-5, 3.68). Chad was turned every which way but loose in his last outing against Arizona and suspected he may have been tipping his pitches, tho his coaches think not. We'll see how he bounces back. Chad has seen the Mets once, and it wasn't pretty. He allowed five runs and eight hits in 4-1/3 innings of work and lost an 8-1 decision to Jacob deGrom on 5/26/17 at PNC Park. Matz has been one of the Mets’ bright spots, posting a 3.10 ERA since the start of May, although the Rockies beat him up some in his last outing. He's been susceptible to the long ball (1.5/nine innings) and averages 3.8 walks per game, so he can be worked. Matz allowed two runs in five innings in his only previous career start against the Pirates, back in 2016.

Bad Chad or Cool Chad tonight? (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Starling Marte CF, Austin Meadows LF, Josh Harrison 2B, David Freese 3B, Elias Diaz C, Jose Osuna 1B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy SS & Kuhl P. Clint's lineup against lefties minus S-Rod.

Notes:

• David Laurila of Fangraphs has the tale of Colin Moran's reinvented swing.
• Back to the future: Tho last night was the first time J-Bell batted second this year, he's started in the two-hole 36 times prior to that as a Bucco. In fact, he's been in every lineup spot possible as a Pirate, even ninth (as a sub). Same deal for Starling at leadoff, which over his career has been the order spot he's been in the most. He also has batted in every position (eighth and ninth as a sub). Josh only had six games as the three hitter and has, like the rest of the gang, batted everywhere (cleanup as a sub). Eight different Bucs have hit leadoff this year; nine others in the two spot and seven from the three hole.
• Homecoming: Ray Searage was born in Deer Park, NY, and is a 1973 graduate of Deer Park HS on Long Island. He made his MLB debut with the Mets on 6/11/81 and pitched two scoreless innings against the Reds at Shea Stadium.