Bucs Open Against the Tribe, Willy v Kluber, Lineup & Notes - Harrison Back

Today: Opening pitch is at 7:10 at Progressive Field with the game on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. And hey - it's raining. It's supposed to clear up, though, with just the threat of a quick passing storm during the game.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (7-7, 4.36) kicks it off against RHP Corey Kluber (12-5, 2.76). Willy is coming off a 2-0 decision over Washington, but has gone 2-5/6.26 ERA in his last 10 starts, so we'll see if he's launching another hot streak like he enjoyed at the start of the season (5-2, 2.62 in first nine games) or is just teasing. He's never faced the Indians. Kluber is the Tribe's main man, but hasn't tossed since July 12th; he got an injection in his right knee the next day, so he may have a little rust to shake off. This will be his first outing against the Bucs.

Willy is on the hill (image AT&T SportsNet)

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Elias Diaz C, Colin Moran DH, J-Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, J-Hay 2B, Jordy SS (Williams P). If you wondered what a lineup with a DH would look like, here it be. J-Hay's back in the saddle, too.

Notes:

• Yesterday, Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to 15 games, now the majors' longest current string.
• Pittsburgh’s OF'ers rank first among NL teams in OPS (.836) & slugging (.500), and second in BA (.282) & HRs (53).
• The Pirates lead the NL with 27 homers in July. The Bucs have gone long in seven consecutive games.
• The Indians are 54-44 and in first in the AL Central. They've won 4-of-6. Pittsburgh is riding a nine-game wave; the last time they won 10 in a row was in 2004.
• Tonight is the first visit to Cleveland for the Pirates since 2012, when the Bucs took 2-of-3 from the Tribe. The Bucs have won six straight and 10 of its 12 games against the junior circuit in 2018.
• During yesterday's Neal Huntington radio show, the GM said he'd like to add to the club "if there's something out there that makes sense."
• Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, on the same subject of Bucco moves, told 93.7 The Fan that "I don't think you can buy for a rental, especially if you're just going for a wild card spot, so I think they may stay pat and then maybe see what's out there in August..."