Dario v Drew Smyly, Lineup & Notes

Game: It's a 1:35 start and the rubber match will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. It's Kids Day with a pre-game party outside and base-running after the match. Kids 14-and-under also get pierogi figurines of Jalapeno Hanna, Sauerkraut Saul and Cheese Chester. The weather could be squirrely as popup storms are crossing the region.

Lineup: Kevin Newman 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Jose Osuna 3B, Jung Ho Kang SS, Elias Diaz C, Dario Agrazal P. Must be Sunday...

K-Man slides to 2B w/JHK at short - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: Dario Agrazal (2-0/2.45) gets the finale against LHP Drew Smyly (1-5/8.52).
Dario's peripherals - seven strikeouts in 22 IP and a 5.72 FIP - suggest imminent doom, but the Bucs are 3-1 in his four starts (the only loss was 4-3) so we'll see if he can keep his train rolling. Smyly gives up 3.3 HR per game, 11 + hits and walks nearly seven with a WHIP of 1.9. His does average a strikeout per inning, tho, guess that's what attracted Philly to sign him. He'll be making his first MLB start since June 18th; he's tossed three games in AAA since then. Smyly hasn't seen the Pirates since 2013.

Notes:

• In his last 51 games, Redbeard is hitting .337, and overall has a .378 BA w/RISP and played four positions in the field.
• With last night's victory, Clint Hurdle (712) moved past Chuck Tanner (711) into fourth place with wins among Pirates skippers. The three top guns are Fred Clarke (1,422), Danny Murtaugh (1,115) and Jim Leyland (851). Clint's got a bit to go to catch up that trio.
• Smyly, DFA'ed by Texas in June, worked three games in Milwaukee's minors (1-0/4.97) before signing as a FA with the Phils. It could be a good deal in the long run; Smiles had TJ surgery in mid-2017 and this is his first season back.
• Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Lee Smith and Harold Baines will be inducted into the HoF today. The first four were voted in; the latter pair selected by "Today's Game" committee.