Jamo v Max Scherzer, Lineup & Notes

Game: First pitch in DC is at 1:35. The series decider will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan, and it should be dry; the serious rain in DC is supposed to hold off until 6 or so.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Fran Cervelli C, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Melky Cabrera RF, Jason Martin LF, Erik Gonzalez SS, Jameson Taillon P. This lineup is as close to an A-Team as Clint has available right now.

J-Mart's turn in left field (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (0-2/3.00) closes the set against RHP Max Scherzer (1-2/3.22). Jamo had a rough outing last time out thanks to his shaky defense, giving up six unearned runs in the second inning when they made three errors behind him. JT faced the Nats once last year in a losing cause, giving up three runs in six frames. Max is coming off a sore leg after he was smacked by a liner during his last outing, but an extra day's rest seems to have turned the trick. He's still up to his old MO with 28K in 19 IP. Scherzer faced the Bucs once in 2018, giving up two runs in 6-1/3 innings and whiffing eight to take the victory.

Notes:

• Definition of an average team: the Pirates have gone win-lose, win-lose, win-lose for the past six games.  
• Good day for the Indy rehab crew - Gregory went 2-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored & two stolen bases, Elias Diaz added two knocks, and Dovy Neverauskas picked up a clean six-out save yesterday.
• The Tigers placed Jordy on the 10-day IL with a quad strain.