Nick Kingham v Shelby Miller, Lineup & Notes

Game: The getaway game will start at 12:35 and be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. If you're off today, supposed to be 72 and sunny at first pitch,with a glorious day for baseball forecast as the Bucs try for another mini-sweep of Texas.

Lineup: Starling Marte CF, Melky Cabrera LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell 1B, Jung Kang 3B, Elias Diaz C, Kevin Newman 2B, Cole Tucker SS, Nick Kingham P. A getaway day lineup, tho Fraze and Fran could both use a blow.

Nick tries to make an impression today. (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) 

Pitchers: RHP Nick Kingham (1-0/6.39) closes the quickie series against RHP Shelby Miller (1-2/7.99). Nick hasn't started since last season, tho it's the role he prefers, so we'll see if it helps his so far spotty performance. Miller has given up 21 runs in 23-2/3IP in six starts this year. Shelby has also had little success v the Buccos; he was chased in the fourth last Wednesday and is 2-8/5.22 lifetime against Pittsburgh.

Notes:

• Melky is working on an 11-game hitting string and J-Bell enters today with a seven-game hitting streak.
• Nick Burdi has been diagnosed with a nerve injury. He's being shut down for 4-to-6 weeks and will be be re-examined after that time.
• This is the first time Cole and K-Man have started together up the middle in the bigs.
• The Pirates have won 5-of-6 since their eight-game losing streak.