Saturday, September 15, 2018

Bucs-Brewers, Nova v Davies, Lineup & Notes - Kela Done For Year

Today: The game is at 7:10 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Ivan Nova (8-9, 4.17) faces off against RHP Zach Davies (2-5, 4.75). Ivan struck out nine Marlins over six scoreless innings in his last start and since coming off the DL in June, he's posted an 8-6/3.60 slash in 15 starts and turning into the kind of vet four-hole guy the Bucs hoped for. He gave up one run in 4-2/3 innings when he last faced the Brewers in July. Davies has had a couple of decent outings after missing more than three months with shoulder and back injuries. He has a 6.49 ERA in seven career starts against Pittsburgh but hasn't faced them this year.

Ivan tosses tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, Jordan Luplow RF, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman SS & Nova P. It's the A-team, as it now consists, minus Jordy, with J-Low making his third straight start.

Notes:
  • Keone Kela will be shut down for the rest of the campaign because of "high leverage workload" this year, per NH. Kela had 54 outings for 52 IP in 2018; he had 39 games covering 38-2/3 IP in 2017 and transitioned from bridge/set-up to closer while a Ranger. It may be so (it is possible that Bucco biometrics have struck again, we suppose), tho we don't buy it as presented. But whatever, he's done for the year.
  • Fraze's .440 BA (11-for-25) v the Brew Crew this year is the tied with Freddie Freeman for the highest by any player in the big leagues with at least 25 plate appearances.
  • This will be Ivan Nova's 200th MLB start.
  • Jordy ranks seventh in franchise history with 768 games played at shortstop, but has a long way to go to move up - Gene Alley is sixth with 977 Bucco games under his belt.
  • Last night Pablo Reyes became the 12th different player to bat leadoff this season for the Pirates. That’s most players Pittsburgh has used at the top of the order in the modern era (since 1900). Clint broke the tie with the 11 leadoff men used in 1956 by Bobby Bragan.

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