Off to Birdland, Willy v Waino, Lineup & Notes - The Rooks Sit Tonight

Today: First pitch is at 8:15 from Busch Stadium and the game will be carried on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.15) opens against RHP Adam Wainwright (1-3, 4.00).  Willy is on as good a roll as any Bucco has ever been on. He's pitched 17-2/3 consecutive scoreless frames over his last three outings and has surrendered just four runs in his last nine starts, covering 54-2/3 IP with a slash of 6-3/0.66. He also has an extra day's rest, hope that helps rather than distracts him. Willy has gone against St. Louis five times this year and is 2-2/4.50, but his last outing was a 2-0, three-hit win. Waino hasn't pitched since May 13 because of right elbow inflammation, but he did put together a string of 19 zeros during rehab. Now with just a couple of bullpens under his belt, he'll get back in the ring against the Bucs. We'll see what's left in the 37-year-old vet's tank; the Cards hope there's enough remaining to give their battered staff a late spark. He's slashed 13-7/4.28 against the Bucs in his career, so he's seen them plenty of times (36) and been so-so against them.

The red hot Willy on the bump (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Adam Frazier RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy Mercer SS & Williams P. No rooks against a playoff caliber team. Good for the game, maybe not so much for the club. J-Hay's back, so we'll see if his hammy holds up. If so, it just adds to the infield PT logjam.

Notes:

• Felipe Vázquez has converted his last 21 save opportunities, which is tied with Kenley Jansen for the longest streak in the NL this season. Vázquez is one of eight pitchers - and the only lefthander - to earn 31 or more saves in a single season with the Pirates.
• Let's not forget the job that Ric Rod has done this year. Rodríguez leads all NL rookie relief pitchers in strikeouts with 74. He's fanned 17 batters in his last 10-1/3 IP and is averaging 11.1 Ks per nine innings this season. Pretty good job by the Buc scouts to find a 28-year-old with 5-2/3 MLB innings under his belt who can perform like he has.
• LHP Buddy Boshers cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy's roster.