Royals-Buccos, Jamo v Skoglund, Lineup & Notes

Today: The game starts at 7:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Last chance to take Rover to the game; this is the final Pup Night of the season. And unlike last evening, this is a beautiful night for a ballgame; Flo has said goodbye to Western Pa.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.37) meets LHP Eric Skoglund (1-5, 6.19). This will be JT's 30th start, the first time he's reached that milepost, and he's tossed 171 IP, also a career high. Jamo has allowed two or fewer ERs in each of his last five starts. He has a 2.03 ERA in that span and the Pirates are unbeaten in those games (the club has won 11 of his last 14 outings). Skoglund is making his second start since coming off the DL with an elbow ligament sprain that sidelined him since May. The second-year pitcher has a problem with dingers, giving one up every five frames, and hard contact in general. He throws four pitches, with his curve considered his best weapon. He's never tossed against the Buccos.

Jamo looks to keep on dealin' (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Lineup: Pablo Reyes RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordan Luplow LF, Jose Osuna 3B, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy Mercer SS & Taillon P. Kinda surprised Jordy & J-Hay weren't in yesterday's lineup; they're making what appears to be their once-a-series appearance tonight. Cervy is back from the flu. It was a mild case - although he sat out yesterday's game, he was available to pinch hit, and in fact was on-deck when Jake stroked his walk off. Our only issue is that when a guy is hot - Kevin Newman has a six-game hitting streak and had three hits last night - there's no reason to sit him unless you live in Clint world. Ya wonder why kids don't develop here...

Notes:

• J-Bell has reached safely (hit/walk) in nine consecutive contests.
• It looks like Fraze just got a nice bruise after fouling a ball off his knee last night. It's TBD if he's available off the pine tonight.
• The Pirates legged out five infield hits last night. Only the Cubs with 151 have produced more MLB bleeders this season than the Bucs' 140.
• Per Baseball Savant's Outs Above Average metric, Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson are in a tie for 10th overall in MLB with +9 rating. The worst Pirates outfielder, per OAA, is Gregory Polanco with -2. ( s/o to @DTonPirates )
• Smokin' - the Bucs have won 9-of-12 and are a game over .500.
• The Pittsburgh Baseball Writers' announced their 2018 team honorees. They are: Roberto Clemente MVP award -  Starling Marte;  Steve Blass Best Pitcher award - Trevor Williams; Chuck Tanner Media Good Guy award -  Jameson Taillon