Chop Shop - the Braves Come to Town, Arch v Wilson, Lineup & Notes - Brault Back, Newman Starts, Starling Sits

Today: The game starts at 7:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Chris Archer (4-5, 4.49) opens the set against RHP Bryse Wilson. Archer has yet to show his stuff as a Bucco in three starts (1-0/5.65), and hasn't gotten past five innings in his three trips to the bump. So we'll see if he heats up or the if the Bucs have to get him a third pitch to add to his toolkit. He's never faced the Bravos. Wilson was just called up and will be making his first big league outing; the Braves are using him the same way the Bucs used Clay Holmes, as a spot starter to push the rotation back a day for a blow. Wilson, 20, was just named the International League Pitcher of the Week, and this start completes his 2018 journey from High A to the majors. He has a fastball (92-95), slider (actually, more of a slurve breaking ball), change repertoire, and other than giving up a few too many homers in AAA, has good command and a strong peripheral line across the board. He'll become the third 20-year-old to start for the Bravos this year.

Arch kicks it off... (photo Justin Aller/Getty)

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Adam Frazier CF, Gregory Polanco RF, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman 2B, Adeiny Hechavarria SS & Archer P. Starling had a couple of half-a** efforts on the bases last night (we wondered if he was playing hurt) and good on Clint for benching him tonight. He needed some time off to regroup his swing anyway. Ends up that J-Hay, not Hechy, gets the pine time for Kevin Newman's first MLB start; Josh has been having some recurring problems with his hammy and it acted up late in yesterday's game.

Notes:

• The Pirates have recalled LHP Steven Brault and optioned LHP Buddy Boshers to Indy. Bosher didn't get into a game in his brief time here.
• Adeiny Hechavarria is hitting .286 as a Buc with a .360 OBP, so far so good as far as his debated stick. And to date, he's been as advertised in the field.
• According to @EliasSports, the last time two teams combined for nine runs or fewer in a four-game series was August 1-3rd, 1958...when the Cardinals & Pirates combined for eight runs. The Bucs had better luck then, sweeping the by 2-0, 1-0, 2-0 & 2-1 scores.
• Rob Manfred said the Little League Classic at Williamsport in 2019 will feature the Cubs v Pirates on August 18th.
• Bristol OF Jonah Davis, drafted out of Cal, made this week's Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet.