Dario v Framber Valdez, Lineup & Notes

Game: First pitch is at 8:10. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. Go get 'em Mary! (She'll be in the Pirates jersey)

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Melky Cabrera RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell DH, Jose Osuna 1B, Elias Diaz C, Corey Dickerson LF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Adam Frazier 2B, Dario Agrazal P. Bryan Reynolds is still out, Josh gets a little more down time, and Redbeard is flipped for JHK, who is batting .145, with a 38 wRC+ and 31% K rate, but does pop the odd longball in a yard that plays to RH power.

JHK goes tonight - image Pittsburgh Pirates calendar

Pitchers: RHP Dario Agrazal meets LHP Framber Valdez (3-3/3.61). Dario debuted on June 15th against the Marlins, allowing three runs (two earned) in four IP with some less than stellar glovework behind him. He got a fairly quick hook after 59 pitches, so we'll see if his performance and his manager's whim gets him deeper into today's start. Framber joined the rotation after 14 outings from the pen to replace Corbin Martin and will be making his fourth straight start; he's 1-1/4.41 in his first three go-arounds. The 25-year-old Dominican is a power lefty with OK control, good K numbers as a starter and a little loose with homers (although colored by an outing against the Yankees at NY, which will bruise most guys' slash line). So he's still a work in progress in his first meeting with the Pirates.

Notes:

• Kevin Newman's hitting streak is up to 15 games.
• OF Jason Martin has been optioned to Indy to make room for Dario Agrazal.
• Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets that the Dodgers have "an interest" in Felipe Vazquez. It's TBD if it's just a fishing expedition or an actual effort by LA, but worth a watch.