Monday: Buccos-Bravos, Lineup & Pitchers, Yesterday's Game, Notes

Game: The Pirates travel to Kissimmee to tackle the Braves at Champion Stadium at 1:05. The contest will be audio streamed on Pirates.com and also available at MLB Gameday.

Lineup: Pablo Reyes RF, Erik Gonzalez DH, JB Shuck CF, Jose Osuna 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Pat Kivlehan LF, Kevin Newman SS, Kevin Kramer 2B, Jake Stallings C (Nick Kingham P).

Pitchers: Nick Kingham, Steven Brault and Alex McRae are scheduled to climb the hill.

Steven may be running out of chances 2018 Topps Heritage

Yesterday's Game: The Bucs small-balled a second inning run on a pair of singles,a wild pitch and sac fly, then big-balled two more in the third on back-to-back bombs by Cervy and JHK.  Archie tossed three good innings (no runs, two hits, four fans while putting away his last seven batters), but that would end in the fourth when Frankie Liriano flung 16 consecutive balls to the four batters he faced. Geoff Hartleib came in to get a DP ball, but a two-out rap tied it up. A Yankee homer in the fifth put them up, 4-3. The Pirates went ahead in the seventh. Cole Tucker tripled to lead off, Kevin Kramer singled him home, and KK eventually plated on Ke'Bryan Hayes sac fly. Woe and alas, Jesus Liranzo opened the eighth by giving up a bloop and a blast, and that held up as New York claimed a seesaw 6-5 decision over Pittsburgh. The Pirates banged out nine hits, but a dozen K's hurt the cause.

Notes:

• Nick Burdi (1-1/3IP) and Dovy Neverauskas (1 IP) retired all seven batters they faced, fanning three.
• C Elias Diaz is out of bed and back at camp, but is still not expected to ready for the start of the season.
• MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince picks each team's MIP (Most Indispensable Player) and comes up with Starling for the Bucs.
• O ye of little faith: USA Today predicts the Buccos record to be 76-86 in 2019.