Big Joe v Kevin Gausman, Lineup & Notes - DuRapau Back, Lyles on IL

Game: The game starts at 7:20 in Sun Trust Park. It will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. The Pirates took 2-of-3 v Atlanta at PNC Park in a set that saw a lot of bashing. The Pirates missed Mike Soroka and Julio Teheran in that series, tho, and catch them both this time around.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Elias Diaz C, Joe Musgrove P. Interesting infield.

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-6/4.44) v. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-5/6.15). Big Joe's last outing was against the Bravos at PNC Park. He went eight innings before fading in the ninth, giving up three runs on five hits with six K while defeating Gausman, who may be the guy that Dallas Keuchel bumps out of the Braves rotation. The Bucs rang up seven runs on 12 hits in five frames against him on Wednesday on the way to a 7-4 victory behind Big Joe.

Big Joe out to trump Kevin Gausman again - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Notes:

• To clarify yesterday's post-game notes, Kyle Crick was available yesterday; he wasn't used by Clint's decision. In other pitching news, Montana DuRapau is back with the Bucs because Jordan Lyles is now on the 10-day IL with hammy tightness; it never ends. Walk and Blass are warming up...
• Bryan Reynolds is taking a 17-game hitting streak and a 24-game on-base streak into today.
• On his radio show yesterday, Neal had the following observations: They want to call Mitch Keller up for keeps, not as a fill-in, spot starter, and haven't decided on whether or not he'll get the open start on Wednesday. Keller had a great outing at Indy with a shaky opening round, and his last couple of slow first innings carry weight in the decision. NH said Tuck has the glove but some holes in his swing to work on and that's why he was sent back down. Huntington also said the lack of depth is on him and is the result of some poor evaluations/force feeding guys who aren't ready. And he doesn't sound like he expects to find any outside help; he's just gonna wait for the injured to return. 
• The Giants traded for DFA'ed Padres OF Alex Dickerson, sending a minor league arm back.
• Big Papi was shot in the back in a Dominican club yesterday during a robbery attempt. Ortiz is reported to have come through surgery well and the Red Sox are flying him to Boston for post-operative care.