Games Resume; Bucs at GABP to Meet the Reds, Jamo v Mahle & Notes - S-Rod Back & Starting

Sorry we're late. Even with the All-Star break, the Pirates had to huddle while they figured out if J-Hay was ready and what to do upon S-Rod's return. An hour before the game and they were still working on who's suiting up...that's Buccin' for ya.

Today: The game from GABP starts at 7:10 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Let's hope the break didn't cool the Buccos off. BTW, there is a tornado watch for Cincinnati in effect until 9 PM and a flash flood warning until midnight with a bout of strong thunderstorms, so we'll see how that all ends up.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (6-7, 3.91) starts the second half against RHP Tyler Mahle (7-7, 4.02). Since June 1st, Jamo has gone 4-3/3.17 in eight starts and looks for a big dog days run. He's been hot-and-cold against Cincy; he topped Mahle with a one-hit shutout in April at PNC Park, but gave up six runs in six innings in May at GABP. Mahle, 23, has been a hit/strikeout per inning guy, and a little on the high side in giving up homers and walks. He's been tossing the ball well since June, going 4-1/3.00 in eight starts over that span although in his last start, the Indians spanked him, chasing Mahle in the third. His only start this year against the Bucs wasn't very hot - he gave up five runs on nine hits in 4-2/3 IP in his loss to Jamo.

Jamo takes the bump tonight (image Positively Pittsburgh)

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Elias Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, J-Bell 1B, S-Rod 2B, Jordy SS & Taillon P. Josh did some pre-game running; guess the hammy wasn't feelin' it quite yet. Clint curled up into his comfort zone and pencilled in S-Rod to take his place. Otherwise, same ol'.

Notes:

• S-Rod was activated from the DL and Tanner Anderson was optioned back to Indy. 
• Starling has a 12-game hitting streak on the line tonight; his career longest was a 13-gamer in 2014. July has been a good month for Marte, who is hitting .380, and also for Corey D, who is hacking away at a .354 clip.
• The Pirates have won six in a row and eight-of-nine. The Reds haven't been slouches either, winning four-of-six and 18-of-26 since mid-June.
• J-Hay hopes to be back in the lineup sometime during this series after tweaking his hammy against the Brew Crew.
• Adam Berry of MLB.com takes a look at what the Bucs and the rest of the division are looking for before the trading deadline.
• Last night, Kevin Kramer became the first Indy batter since Josh Harrison (2011) to bang out five hits in game.
• The Cubs sent Texas a minor leaguer for RHP Jesse Chavez, 34. He left Pittsburgh in 2009 for Aki Iwamura and began a tour of the league; the Cubs will be his ninth team.
• Former Pirates pitcher and current free agent Antonio Bastardo has been suspended 140 games after testing positive for Stanozolol. It was his second PED bust.