Big Joe v Jose Quintana, Lineup & Notes

Game: The finale begins at 7:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Adam Frazier 2B, Melky Cabrera RF, Jose Osuna 1B, Pablo Reyes CF, Jake Stallings C, Jake Elmore LF, Erik Gonzalez 3B, Joe Musgrove P. Hmmm...Redbeard sitting against a righty. B-Rey is also down after tweaking his hammy last night.

Big Joe climbs the hill tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (10-12/4.49) closes out his campaign against RHP Jose Quintana (13-8/4.55). Big Joe has set career highs in games started, innings pitched and wins, and has developed into a sturdy mid-to-back end rotation guy. His FIP is 3.98 and his peripherals are solid, so the next step is to develop some consistency from start to start. Moose has been strong v Chicago; he's 0-1 but with a 1.08 ERA in three outings with excellent hit (9) and K (19) numbers in 16-1/3IP. Quintana had a solid season go to pot; in his last six outings, he's posted an 8.49 ERA and been chased in the third or fourth inning in his last three trips to the hill. But Q has had Pittsburgh's number; his slash is 4-0/3.38 in five starts against the Buccos this year.

Notes:

• Erik Gonzalez has a nine-game hitting streak.
• The Cubs carry an eight-game losing streak into tonight; it's their longest since 2012.
• Clint's return in 2020 seems to be his take on the situation, not necessarily that of management, per Jason Mackey of the Post Gazette. He had a sit-down with the suits after last night's game and was mum on the situation afterwards; we don't know if he spoke out of school or just too soon. There's never a "yes-or-no" answer from this management gang.
• After tonight, the Reds come to town over the weekend for the last series of the season and for Steve Blass last hurrah in the booth.