Bucs Head to Miller Park, Arch v Gonzalez, Lineup & Notes - El Coffee Out 7-9 Months

Today: The Bucs begin their last last visit to Miller Park with an 8:10 opening pitch. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Chris Archer (4-7, 4.56) takes on LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-11, 4.40). Chris is still trying to find his Pittsburgh groove; in seven starts, he's 1-2/5.40. His last two outings have shown improvement, going six innings in both games and giving up four runs total. In his only Milwaukee start of the year, Arch allowed six runs in four innings and lost a 7-4 decision in August. Gonzalez, who was just picked up from the Nats by the Brew Crew, held the Giants to one unearned run on three hits in 5-2/3 innings in his first Brewer outing. He has a 4-2/3.79 line in 10 career starts against the Pirates, and lost his only 2018 Bucco outing while with Washington, 2-0, surrendering two runs in six frames on six hits.

Arch toes the slab (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Pablo Reyes LF, Starling Marte CF, Jordan Luplow RF, Fran Cervelli C, Josh Bell 1B, Jose Osuna 3B, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy Mercer SS & Archer P. Looks like Clint is going to give J-Hay and Jordy at least a start every series before getting the kids in, a fair nod to his vets even if not necessarily in the club's best future interests. Joey O gets another look at the hot corner while it's Marte and the pups in the pasture.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh’s 9-4 record against the Crew is the best by any team in MLB this year. The Bucs have posted a 2.96 ERA, with two shutouts, this season against Milwaukee and outscored them 68-42 on the season. Tonight, the Pirates begin a stretch of playing the Brewers six times over the next nine games followed by a four-gamer at Wrigley v the Cubs, so the Bucs will have some influence, one way or another, in the Central race.
• Gregory Polanco's surgery on Wednesday repaired the labrum and stabilized the shoulder after an acute dislocation, but it's a long recovery process. Typically, players return to Major League competition in approximately 7-9 months following this type of surgery, per the Pirates. The Bucs will pencil in Jordan Luplow, Adam Frazier and Pablo Reyes to play right field for the rest of the season.
• The Nightmare has gone 32-for-36 in save opportunities this year and has 22 straight conversions.
• Billy "Digger" O'Dell, who pitched for the Pirates in 1966-67, passed away at the age of 85.
• C Reese McGuire, part of the deal that sent Frankie Liariano to the Blue Jays, got a September call up to Toronto. The 23-year-old has gone 2-for-6 asof today and is getting a decent look as the Jay's Russ Martin is 35 and seeing more time at 3B than C of late. McGuire has been long lauded for his defensive chops, but hit just .233 in AAA this year.