Jordan v Lucas Sims, Lineup & Notes - First Starts, Fraze Sits

Game: The game begins at 6:40 at GABP. It will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Cole Tucker SS, Jordan Lyles P. Guess Fraze did bruise his foot yesterday, and that leaves the middle infield kinda thin w/just Joey O (no word yet on Adam's availability; his foot was reportedly wrapped in the locker room).

Pitchers: RHP Jordan Lyles (5-1/2.81) goes against Lucas Sims (0-0/0.00). Jordan had his inning from heck last outing, but he's still the bedrock of the rotation. He faced the Redlegs once this year in April before he was fully stretched out, and still got five innings of three-hit, shutout ball for a 2-0 win. Sims, a former first-round pick of the Braves, was called up from AAA Louisville for the start, where he was 3-0/4.08. It's not his maiden MLB voyage; he been in 23 big league games (10 starts) with a 3-6/6.01 slash. His command has improved greatly this year in the minors; he's averaging 13 K and three walks per nine in AAA, so we'll see what the 25-year-old has to offer today. Sims tossed once against the Bucs last year, going 1-2/3 IP with a whiff, walk and bop.

Jordan gets the call tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

First Outings:

Thought we'd take a look at how the more-or-less current staff's starting debuts matched up with Mitch's first trip:

• Jordan Lyles took his bow against the Cubs while with the Astros in 2011 and won 7-3, going seven frames w/5 hits, 2 ER, 4 K and 0 W.
• Archie's first go was in 2012 as a Ray v the Nats. He dropped a 3-2 decision, going six IP w/3 hits, 1 ER (three overall), 7 K and 1 W.
• Big Joe's debut was in 2016 as a 'Stro against Texas. Musgrove got a no decision in a 5-3 loss, tossing seven innings w/5 hits, 1 ER, 6 strikeouts and 1 W.
• Jamo opened in 2016 v the Mets. Jameson had a no decision in a 6-5 loss, twirling 6 frames w/6 hits, 3 ER, 3 K and 2 W.
• Chad Kuhl met the Dodgers in 2016 and won 4-3. His line was five IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 5 K and 4 W.
• Steven Brault's maiden voyage was against St. Louis in 2016. He got a no decision in a 5-2 win, spinning four innings w/4 hits, 1 ER (two surrendered), 5 K and 2 W.
• Willy first started in 2016, taking on the Reds, and he had no decision in a 7-3 win. Trevor lasted four innings, w/5 hits, 3 ER, one strikeout and 0 W. 
• Everyone remembers Nick Kingham's 2018 outing v St. Louis. He fired a seven-inning one-hitter with nine punchouts, winning 5-0.
• Mitch Keller met Cincy last night and took an 8-1 loss, giving up 6 ERs in four frames, w/7 hits, 6 ER, 7 K and 2 W. His first inning was brutal; afterward he retired 10-of-11 Reds while tossing shutout ball.

Interesting? Yep. Predictive? Nah.

The King's 2018 debut hasn't quite translated yet - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Notes:

• As the 26th man, Ric Rod went back to Indy today after working in both ends of yesterday's twin bill.
• For those wondering if Mitch is another Bucco starter with a history of first-inning yips, the short answer in no; it was more likely a case of debut butterflies. What he does have is a history of taking a few starts to adjust when he advances to higher levels, so we'll see how steep his learning curve is at the pinnacle.
• As unlikely as it seems, the Pirates 26-26 record is the same as the Cards, and they're still just four games behind the Cubs in the Central Division.
• LHP Sean Burnett, drafted by the Bucs in 2000, announced his retirement. His last MLB posting was in 2016.