Big Joe v Miles Mikolas, Lineup & Notes

Game: The final getaway game of the set starts at 12:35. It will be aired by AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Corey Dickerson LF, Kevin Newman SS, Jake Stallings C, Joe Musgrove P. How often do you see the closer from the night before come back the next day and catch?

Jake goes from the slab to behind the dish - photo via MLB.com

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (7-8/4.08) gets the finale against RHP Miles Mikolas (6-10/4.17). Big Joe has been up-and-down, and against the Redbirds, just plain bad. In two starts, he's given up 13 runs in 7-2/3 IP *yikes*! But his last game was strong and a carry-over would be timely. The pitch-to-contact Mikolas is 1-1/2.14 v  the Pirates this year, and tossed a Maddux his last time out against Pittsburgh, giving up just eight hits. But like Big Joe, his performance has been spotty, so it's tough to predict what either guy will bring to the slab today.

Notes:

• Not much of a surprise - Luis Escobar was sent to Indy and Alex McRae called up to add a fresh arm to the pen. McRae is 0-2/8.76 in four Bucco outings this year.
• Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic talked to Gregory, who admitted he came back from his shoulder injury too early (by choice), and doesn't know for sure if he'll return this season. 
• Pitching News: Steven Brault threw a bullpen session yesterday with no ill effects; next will be a sim game over the weekend. Rookie Davis is still throwing side sessions at Pirates City. Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana are progressing with the throwing programs as both rehab from TJ surgery.
• In case you were wondering, yesterday was the first time Jose Osuna and Jake Stallings ever pitched in pro ball.
• The Bucs have lost four in a row and 10-of-12 since the All-Star break, falling a season-worst nine games below .500.