Mets Come to Town; Kingham v Matz, Lineup & Notes - Cervy Back

Today: It's a 7:05 start and the game will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Nick Kingham (5-4, 4.11) opens the set against LHP Steven Matz (4-8, 3.65). Nick has been rounding into shape with steadier work, going 3-0/2.89 over his last three starts. He’s allowed more than three earned runs twice in 10 games. The King has been a homer so far, slashing 3-1/2.90 ERA in five starts at PNC Park. This is his first trip to the hill against the Mets. Matz is 0-3 in his last three games, giving up eight runs in 11-1/3 IP in his last pair of outings. He beat the Bucs 4-3 a month ago, giving up three runs in seven innings on six hits with seven punchouts.

The King looks to get the homestand off to a good start (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Jordan Luplow LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, S-Rod CF, Jordy SS & Kingham P. S-Rod in center...and there's another lefty tomorrow. We're hoping that means the Bucs expect Corey D and Starling back in a couple of days. Not only does their absence affect the starting lineup, but it doesn't leave much of a bench (their availability off the bench tonight is TBD; we'd assume if they were good to go, they'd be playing).

Notes:

• Cervy has been activated and Jake Stallings returned to Indy. In other injury news, Starling's x-rays  were negative; he has a contusion rather than a fracture. No new info was given re: Corey D's hammy.
• The home run Felipe Vazquez allowed to Yonder Alonso on Wednesday was just the second that he's given up to lefty batter in his four-year career. Jay Bruce went deep against him in June of 2016, per John Toperzer.
• The Mets start the series with back-to-back lefties in Matz and Jason Vargas. Could be some interesting lineups the next two days.
• The Pirates took 2-of-3 from the Metropolitans in late June at Citi Field, all three games being tightly played.
• The Mets will be without Yoenis Cespedes, who will have season-ending heel surgery.
• Fangraph's Craig Edwards posts "The Pirates Are In This Thing" and explains the how and why.
• Yardbarker's Demetrius Bell looks at three teams that are hot and three that are not. The Bucs are one of the sizzlers and the Mets are one of the icebergs.
• The Brewers picked up ol' Bucco Joakim Soria from the White Sox for for minor leaguers LHP Kodi Medeiros and RHP Wilber Perez. Soria was the CWS closer but likely to become the Brew Crew's set-up guy.
• Scratch JA Happ off the wish list; he was traded to the Evil Empire.