Alex v Miles Mikolas, Lineup & Notes

Game: The series opens at 7:05. The match will be aired by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's free-tee night, Dollar Doggie Night, and Cancer Support Night, so lots going on at the ol' ballyard.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jose Osuna RF, Adam Frazier 2B, Jake Stallings, Alex McRae P. Starling's back, so whatever was bothering him has settled down. (the lineup was late tonight waiting to see how Marte got through the trainer's checklist).

Alex gets the start - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Alex McRae (0-3/9.98) starts the set against RHP Miles Mikolas (8-13/4.32). Big Joe Musgrove was scheduled to go tonight, but has right foot "discomfort" and is day-to-day. McRae has started one MLB game; he got four outs while giving up seven runs (five earned) against the Reds in late July. He faced the Cards last year, taking a loss while giving up three runs in 3-1/3 IP of relief work. Mikolas hasn't been very strong since August, going 1-2/5.50 in six starts. He's 2-1/3.66 this year against the Bucs in five outings.

Notes:

• The Cards have owned the Pirates; they're 12-4 against them this year and won the last eight games straight.
• Mitch Keller tossed a side session yesterday; we'll see how his wrist feels today. Of the guys out, Yefry Ramirez sounds like the only one who will be able to return this month.
• Per the Marlins, the Moran brothers, Colin and Brian, were the first since 1900 to face each other in an MLB at bat during a debut.