Goodby LA, Holmes v Hill & Notes - Bench Day, Josh Smoker Back

Today: It's getaway day, although an 8:10 start seems a little on the late side. The contest will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Clay Holmes (3-3, 3.79) closes out against LHP Rich Hill (1-3, 4.68). Holmes is the cavalry now that J-Grove has joined Chad Kuhl on the DL; whether it's a spot start or audition depends on Musgrove's recovery time. After a spotty spring, Clay worked mainly at Indy with a slash of 6-3/3.39 in 13 games (12 starts) averaging 10 K and four walks per nine. His game is built around his fastball with a cutter/slider & curve. He's a ground ball guy and his K rate has bumped up. Holmes, 25, made his first MLB outing in April and was called back up June 24th when Michael Feliz went on the DL; he's worked two innings during each visit. This will be his first big league start. The 38-year-old Hill has missed chunks of time with blister issues. He's made three outings since coming back (for the third time) in mid-June, with two good appearances and one not so much. His last mound trip against Pittsburgh was in 2017; he tossed a complete game one-hitter with 10 K.

Clay to save the day? (photo Dave Arrigo/Pgh Pirates)

Lineup: Austin Meadows LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Elias Diaz C, David Freese 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS, Moroff 2B & Holmes. Corey D, J-Hay and J-Bell take a seat as Clint empties the bench for the Fourth; Jacob Stallings is the only guy that didn't get the call today, and for him, it's the price for backing up a smokin' Eli.

Notes:

• The Pirates were a man short yesterday; LHP Josh Smoker has joined the team today. Smoker gave up nine hits and four runs in four IP in his earlier Pittsburgh stop. He went 3-1/2.59 at Indy.
• Eli's last six hits have gone for extra bases (two home runs and four doubles). He's batting .319 as a starter, and today will be his 12th straight start.
• Clay Holmes is the first Pirates pitcher to make his starting debut on July 4th since Bruce Kison in 1971. 
• The Dodgers have hit 18 homers in five games against Pittsburgh this season.
• Not very patient: Bucco batters haven't drawn a walk in the last two games and in their last 22 innings of play. Among NL teams, only the Padres (253) and Marlins (255) have walked fewer times than the Pirates (263).
• The Pirates are off tomorrow and will begin an 11-game homestand on Friday against Philly, Washington and Milwaukee that will carry them into the All-Star break.