Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Mitch v Marco Gonzales,Lineup & Notes

Game: The Pirates open a three-game set at PNC against the Seattle Mariners at 7:05. The game is on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's Pup in the Park night and also CMU Night; Tartans who sign up for the special package also get a free CMU/Bucco cap.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Adam Frazier 2B, Melky Cabrera RF, Jose Osuna 1B, Elias Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, Erik Gonzalez CF, Kevin Kramer LF, Mitch Keller P. Nice lineup for the home fans. Marte and Bell are still out (and will be for a while longer, per Clint) along w/Jake, Reynolds is sitting (after a day off), a shortstop and second baseman are starting in center and left...

Mitch to pitch - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (1-4/8.29) opens it up against LHP Marco Gonzales (15-11/4.30). Mitch is taking his lumps in his first rodeo; he doesn't have much time left in this campaign to figure it out. Gonzales has developed into a workhorse for the Mariners and has gotten into the sixth inning in 12 of his last 16 starts. He's never faced the Pirates.

Notes:
  • While the Felipe Vazquez news has cast a cloud over Bucco baseball, it did create a roster opening; IF Jake Elmore got a well-deserved call to Pittsburgh today.
  • The Pirates also claimed IF Corban Joseph off waivers from Giants and moved Chris Archer to 60-day IL. The 30-year-old Joseph (he'll be 31 in October) has had cups of coffee with four teams, with a career .169 BA, and fits the mold - he plays second and the OF/IF corners. He did rampage through the PCL (.371/.421/.585), so there's that.
  • And to add to the crowd, RHP Chris Stratton came off the IL today. That's countered by Pablo being off; he's on paternity leave. 
  • Seattle has won its last two series, taking 2-of-3 from the White Sox & the Reds. The Pirates will look at three lefties during the series - Gonzales, Tommy Milone as the second act of an opener start, and Yusei Kikuchi. The Bucs, btw, have a .249 BA and 82 OPS+ against southpaws.
  • Four Bucs made the back end of MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Rookies - Mitch Keller (19), Bryan Reynolds (22), Cole Tucker (26) and Kevin Newman (27).

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