Sunday - Series Showdown: Big Joe v Chase Anderson, Lineup & Notes, Kramer Up Today

Game: The game begins at 1:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. Young 'uns get a voucher for a cup of ice cream and a chance to run the bases afterwards.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman SS, Jake Stallings C, Joe Musgrove P.  Corey's available if absolutely needed, but it sure makes sense to let it rest the day before the break. The Pirates have won the last five games Jake has started behind the dish and he's hitting .327. As a result, he's getting his third start of the month.

Jake behind the plate - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (6-7/4.13) and RHP Chase Anderson (4-2/4.31) take us into All Star break today. Big Joe has been strong recently, and should be rested after a short three-inning stint last time out due to a long rain delay.  He's met Milwaukee once this year and it wasn't pretty, as he gave up five runs on 11 hits (three left the yard) in six innings. Anderson is 3-3/5.40 since June, and 1-0 in two 2019 starts against Pittsburgh, giving up four runs in 10 frames.

Notes:

• Montana DuRapau was returned to Indy and the Bucs recalled INF Kevin Kramer. He'll add to the cavalry w/Dickerson hobbled. Clint says that as of now, Dario Agrazal will start on the 16th, meaning they don't expect Steven Brault to be ready for action in 10 days.
• Pirates closer Felipe Vázquez was named yesterday to the NL All-Star team, replacing Zack Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vázquez was a first-time All-Star last year, throwing a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts. The 28-year-old is 2-1/2.19 with 19 saves in 34 outings this year. He has 59 K in 37 IP.
• Good news for Brew Crew SS Orlando Arcia - his scary collision last night produced just a bruise and he expects to be able to be 100% after the ASG, saying he could go today in a pinch.
• The Bucs are off until the 12th after today, when they begin a six-game road trip with three contests at Wrigley and three more at Busch Stadium.
• Former Pirates OF Felix Pie, now playing in Mexico, was beaned last night and had to be carried to an ambulance, with no additional info yet. The 34-year-old played his last MLB campaign in Pittsburgh in 2013.