Mitch v Kyle Hendricks, Lineup & Notes

Game: First pitch of the last homestand is at 7:05.The game is on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan, and it's the last night for you and your pup to enjoy a game.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds CF, Adam Frazier 2B, Jose Osuna 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jake Stallings C, Kevin Kramer RF, Erik Gonzalez LF, Mitch Keller P. Kinda odd there aren't any, you know, outfielders playing right and left, but... Gonzalez, in case you're wondering, is hitting .320 over his last seven games (8-for-25) although his OPS+ is still just 54 (very few walks & extra-base bangs).

Mitch makes his last pitch for 2019 - 2019 Bowman Prospect

Pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (1-5/7.74) starts it off against RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-9/3.37). Mitch is closing out his first jog around the block, and hopefully the rocky road will help smooth his way in 2020. He has been a lot sharper at PNC on the road, so it'd be good to see him come up roses tonight. He's faced the Cubbies once, five weeks ago in Pittsburgh, and was sent to the showers after 4-1/3 IP, two dingers and six runs. Kyle's had a bump or two, but overall, he's given up two runs or fewer in 20 of his 29 outings. Hendricks is 1-1 against Pittsburgh in three starts with a sparkly 2.25 ERA.

Notes:

• The Cubs started the Pirates tailspin on Friday the 13th of this month, sweeping a three-game set at Wrigley by a 47-15 overall count, launching homers by the truckload. The Pirates have lost 8 of the last 9 versus the Windy City squad, and this is their last chance to be spoilers in the division. The Cubs are all but dead in the division at 7-1/2 games back and trail the Brewers by four games for the second wildcard.
• The Bucs are 31-44 at PNC Park this year.