Saturday, August 4, 2018

Bucs and Birds, Nova v Gomber, Lineup & Notes - Corey D Back, Bostick Down

Today: It's a 7:05 start with the game on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's Andy Van Slyke bobblehead night and AVS himself will be on Federal Street before the game signing autographs.

Pitchers: RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.33) takes on LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 3.22). Nova was spotty in July, tossing good, bad and ugly games. The good news is that the Bucs have won the last four games that he's started. Ivan hasn't seen the Cards this year, and against them overall is 1-2/4.18 in four appearances. Gomber is making his second career MLB start, replacing Carlos Martinez, who's on the DL for the third time this season. He's been up since June, working 17-of-18 outings from the pen. His first start was July 24th against the Reds, and he got into the seventh inning, giving up two runs after 90 tosses. His first outing of the year was as a reliever against the Pirates, and he spun three no-run, no-hit innings with a walk and two K on his ledger.

Ivan on the bimp (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli 1B, Elias Diaz C, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy SS & Nova P. Well look who's playing first... Also, look who's in left as Clint opts for the hot bat rather than a strict platoon as Fraze starts over J-Low.

Notes:

  • The Pirates have reinstated Corey Dickerson from the DL and optioned Chris Bostick to Indy.
  • Lucky Number Four: Fraze delivered his fourth game-winning RBI of 2018 last night while collecting his fourth three-hit game of the season.
  • Freeser has chased home 10 runs during the seven games of this home stand. 
  • Ric Rod has stranded his last 18 inherited runners; he hasn't allowed one to score since May.
  • The Cards' Dexter Fowler left the game in the eighth inning last night; he broke his foot running the basepaths. Kolten Wong came off the DL to take his spot.
  • RHP George Kontos was purchased by the Yankees from Cleveland; he'll be assigned to NY's AAA club as a depth arm. You can go home again.


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