Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (6-9, 3.87) kicks it off against RHP Brad Keller (8-6, 3.04). Big Joe has had a couple of bumpy starts; could be the grind is catching up to him. But J-Grove likes PNC Park - in his last three home starts, he's given up just four runs over 20 innings. He's never faced the Royals before. Keller, a 22-year-old rookie, was pulled out of the pen at the end of May, and in 18 starts has slashed 7-5/3.26. But he's been on a month-long roll; he's 4-1/1.85 in his last five outings and gone seven innings or more in his past three outings, so he's getting better with experience as a pitch-to-contact guy. The Rule 5 pick from Arizona uses a fastball/sinker/slider toolkit to induce groundera and soft contact. This will be Keller's first Bucco game.
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| Big Joe hoping to finish strong (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Corey Dickerson LF, J-Bell 1B, Jordan Luplow RF, Kevin Kramer 3B, Kevin Newman SS, Jacob Stallings C & Musgrove P. Cervy was a late scratch with the flu, slipping Jake a start, so we're supposing Eli isn't quite 100% yet.
Notes:
- Kevin Newman still has trouble fighting off major league fastballs, but he has quietly put together a five-game hitting streak.
- Uncle Ray Searage, 63, will undergo cervical neck surgery this week and he's expected to resume his coaching duties once he’s recovered. His job will fall onto the shoulders of assistant pitching coach Justin Meccage while he's out.
- This is Kansas City’s first trip back to Pittsburgh since 2012. The Pirates are 7-2 all-time against the Royals at PNC Park.
- Guess who's at .500 again? Yep, the Buccos are 74-74 after winning the Brewer series and have gone 8-3 in their last 11 games.
- Pittsburgh is 12-5 in interleague play this season, the second-best record in MLB behind the Red Sox (16-4).
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