Phils-Bucs Close Out, Kingham v Anderson, Notes - Cervy Back, Jake to Indy

Today: The Sunday matinee starts at 1:35 and will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Kids 14-and-under get a nerf ball baseball dart game.

Pitchers: RHP Nick Kingham (2-4, 4.70) v RHP Drew Anderson. The King was anything but in his last outing when he couldn't pitch or even catch a ball as the Dodgers ran roughshod over him. Kingham so far has pretty much been a quality start sort of guy with some good and bad mixed in. This will be is first outing against Philadelphia. He does have an ace up his sleeve - his slash is 1-1/2.89 in three starts at PNC Park. Anderson, 24, will make his 2018 debut and first MLB start (he made a couple of brief and brutal appearances in 2017) because of a Monday doubleheader and an injury to Vince Velasquez. He slashed 5-3/4.15 at AAA Lehigh Valley, and it will be his first go against the Pirates.

The King looking for a rebound (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: J-Bell 1B, Starling Marte CF, Corey Dickerson LF, Colin Moran 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Austin Meadows RF, J-Hay 2B, Jordy SS & Kingham P. Welcome back Cervy as the A-Team makes a rare Sunday appearance, with Gregory drawing pine time today.

Notes:

• Fran Cervelli was activated today; Jacob Stallings was sent back to Indy. Jerry DiPaola of the Trib has a piece on Amore; interesting read in that Cervelli admitted he tried to play through his fuzziness for too long and on his health coach - his mom Damelis, who's with him in Pittsburgh.
• Jamo wasn't happy that he was pulled after 77 pitches yesterday, and said he'll have to figure out how to earn Clint's trust to work through late-inning rough patches. Hurdle's defense was that after JT allowed the second run, he thought it was time to call the pen. JT says he'll talk to Clint & Uncle Ray about it before today's game so they can understand each others thinking a little better and move on. Clint had no comment afterward other than to say it was an excellent convo.
• Joe Musgrove threw a bullpen session; he's on schedule to pitch Tuesday, the first day he can come off the DL.
• Jordy Mercer will be tied for seventh in franchise history with 734 games played at shortstop with today's start. He shares the spot with Bones Ely, who played from 1896-1901.