Big Joe v Luke Weaver, Lineup & Notes

Game: First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 EDT. The match will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Cole Tucker SS, Joe Musgrove P. Everyone knows Cervy's had a rough start (.184 BA), but Eli has been even slower out of the gate (.152 BA).

Josh tries to keep his string going 2017 Topps Cornerstones

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-4/4.20) takes on RHP Luke Weaver (3-1/2.98). Big Joe has been tattooed in his last two outings, with a noticeable drop in velo. Hopefully he's just going through a dead arm period and gets back on track; the rotation needs all hands on deck with Jamo out. Joe gave up three runs in six innings to the D-Backs in late April in a game that the bullpen later lost. Weaver is another hi-K guy, averaging 10 whiffs per game, and was a key part of the Goldy trade w/St. Louis. He's given up one run in each of his past two starts, working seven innings in both games. The righty beat the Bucs 2-1 in the April series at PNC Park.

Notes:

• No, it doesn't get old: J-Bell has a 13-game hitting streak going on and Starling is on an eight-game roll.
• Time for the worm to turn: the Pirates have lost 13-of-14 to Arizona, including nine in a row.
• The Pirates released IF Erich Weiss, 27, who was in his seventh year in the Bucco system and third campaign at Indy. 
• LHP Josh Smoker, who tossed briefly for the Bucs last year, was released last week by the Dodgers. The Pirates sent LHP Daniel Zamora to the Mets for him; in 22 outings over the past two seasons, Zamora has a 2.13 ERA and averages nearly 15 K per nine. Spoiler: he does have a SSS - only 12-2/3 IP, as he's used as a LOOGY.