Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24) opens against LHP Cole Hamels (9-10, 3.90). Jamo and Willy have been the best 1-2 punch the Pirates have since maybe Vern Law and Bob Friend. He tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters in his last start v Kansas City, but earned a no-decision. JT has made 20 straight starts allowing three earned runs or less and in 27 of his 30 starts. He's posted a 2.34 ERA in his last 13 starts and has gone 7-2/2.25 in 11 starts since the All-Star break. In two starts against the Cubbies this year, he's 1-0, giving up four runs in 12-2/3 IP. Hamels is 4-1/2.42 as a Cub, and the Pirates have helped those numbers - they've haven't scored an earned run against the ol' vet in two starts covering 12 IP. But he's 1-3/5.18 in September, so we'll see if his spell can be broken tonight.
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| Jamo has been dealing (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Pablo Reyes RF, Josh Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, Jose Osuna 3B, Jordan Luplow CF, Kevin Newman SS & Taillon P. Lefties Fraze and Corey take on the southpaw Hamels; Fran's back and Starling's not.
Notes:
- Corey Dickerson has gone 15-for-40 (.375) with six doubles, a triple, home run and seven RBI in his past 12 games to raise his batting average to .298. He's hit safely in seven straight games against the Cubs.
- Counting tonight's outing, Jordan Luplow has started nine of the last 11 games. He has just one hit in his last 23 at bats.
- Chicago is starting four lefties against the Bucs in this series.
- Pittsburgh is 7-8 on the season v the Baby Bruins. Pittsburgh lost two of three in the last set, dropping a pair of 1-0 games to Jon Lester and Cole Hamels.
- The Bucs are 78-76; they were 69-85 after 154 games in 2017 and 77-77 in 2016.
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