Mitch v Anthony DeSclafani, Lineup & Notes

Game: The series starts at 7:05 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Bring your ooohs and aaahs; it's a Zambelli Fireworks night.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jose Osuna RF, Adam Frazier 2B, Jake Stallings C, Mitch Keller P. Fraze and K-Man did a little flip in the order that's usually reserved for lefties.

Joey O patrolling the pasture again - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (1-2/8.86) opens it up against RHP Anthony DeSclafani (8-7/4.40). Mitch is finding the learning curve in Pittsburgh to be rather steep, but he's tossed in the fire now. It's as good a time as any to learn the ropes. His 10 strikeouts per nine is a good start; cutting back on the four walks and deep pitch counts is his agenda over these next few weeks. DeSclafani has been bitten by the long fly; he's given up 25 this year, including three against the Bucs. He hasn't had much luck against the Pirates this year; he's 0-2/8.10 in his prior two outings.

Notes:

• The Pirates and Reds have supposedly been told to draw their horns in for this series, per Arthur Weinstein of The Sporting News. Both managers have said that everything is cool now, so we'll see what the drama level rises to during the set. Of course, Derek Dietrich was activated off the IL today; we'll see if he gets with the program.
• The Pirates have a full 25-man roster with Kyle Crick's return after being down a man for 18 straight games due to suspensions. Fitting it should happen against the Reds, whose last series v Pittsburgh was the source of the suspensions.
• Be interesting to see how Bucco attendance holds up now that high school football is starting, with the Panthers, Penn State, WVU and Steelers not far behind.
• Cervy said goodbye on social media: