Sunday Afternoon at the Park: Jamo v Quintana, Lineup & Notes

Today: The game starts at 1:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Kids 14-and-under get a WB Mason mini-truck, and after the game they can run the bases.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (9-9, 3.66) closes it out against LHP José Quintana (10-9, 4.46). Jamo is 7-5/3.15 over his past 14 outings, but just 3-3/4.86 in six career starts taking on the Cubs. JT won his only Windy City start this year, taking a 5-4 decision over Jon Lester at PNC after going 6-2/3 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits. Quintana has allowed 17 runs in 20-1/3 innings over his past four starts, so it seems like a good time to catch Q. He's put up career highs in walks and home runs per nine innings this year, so he has a couple of areas to attack. Quintana hasn't faced the Bucs this year, but was strong against them last year, going 1-0/2.25 in a pair of starts, giving up 10 hits with 15 K in 12 IP.

Jamo tries to salvage a split of the Cub set. (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Elias Diaz C, J-Bell 1B, J-Hay 2B, Adeiny Hechavarria & Taillon. Clint's Sunday/lefty lineup.

Notes:

• The Pirates are 6-8 against the Cubs this season, going 3-5 here at PNC Park and 3-3 at Wrigley Field. Following today’s tilt, the two clubs are not scheduled to face each other until the final week of the season at Wrigley.
• Per Joe Block: No one opponent has limited the Cubs to one run or less in four consecutive games since the Pirates in September, 1927. This series is the the first time in team history that the Pirates have allowed exactly one run in three straight games, with all three runs coming on solo homers. 
• Felipe Vazquez's 17-game save streak is the longest current string in MLB.
• In the last seven games, the starting pitchers have posted a 2.62 ERA. Dating back to July 11th, the starters have produced a 3.31 ERA and the team has gone 20-13. Their 3.31 ERA in that time is the sixth-best mark among MLB teams. 
• SS Adeiny Hechavarria has started the last four games and gone 3-for-10 since Jordy's been out.
• It doesn't get easier: After the Cubs, the first-place Atlanta Braves will be in town for three games starting Monday.