Pirates Look to Take Series, J-Grove v Wheeler, Lineup & Notes

Today: The Sunday getaway game starts at 1:35 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The kids get a Hulk bobblehead (no, don't think he signed) and can start out the day in the Kids Zone & finish by running the bases.

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-4, 3.90) closes it out v RHP Zack Wheeler (4-6, 4.33). J-Grove cruised in his last outing and in his last four games has gone at least seven innings three times, with two or fewer runs yielded three times. This will be his first go at the Mets. Wheeler is on a bit of a roll, too - over his last five trips to the bump, he is 2-0/3.03 with 30 strikeouts in 32-2/3 innings, making him potential deadline trade bait. The Bucs kicked off his strong run in late June when he spun seven scoreless frames against them, giving up five hits and K'ing seven.

J-Grove looks to take the series from the Mets (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Colin Moran 3B, David Freese 1B, Elias Diaz C, Austin Meadows LF, S-Rod SS & Musgrove P. Dunno about the S-Rod love, but solid enough lineup for who's available on this Sunday. J-Hay's been down a couple of days; wonder if his hand is bothering him or his play is bothering Clint.

Notes:

• With Cervy & Starling back in the saddle and Corey D & J-Bell on the DL, replaced by Austin Meadows and Jose Osuna, Clint will finally have a 25-man roster to work with again.
• Bucco sports medicine director Todd Tomczyk said the Pirates are "optimistic" that Josh Bell (oblique) and Corey Dickerson (hammy) won't be lost beyond the 10-day DL because of their injuries.
• The Pirates staff leads the majors with 12 shutouts, already matching their 2017 total. Trevor Williams has a 17-inning scoreless string and in his last three starts has defeated Gio Gonzalez, Cory Kluber and Jacob deGrom.
• Musical chairs: The Pirates have used 11 different starters in the leadoff spot this season, matching the most in one season for the club since 1900 (the 1956 squad also had 11 guys leadoff).
• The Pirates are off tomorrow and then the Cubs roll in for a quick two-game set.
• It's HoF Induction Day for Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome & Trevor Hoffman (elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America) with Jack Morris & Alan Trammell (elected by the Hall's Modern Era Committee).