Home Opener: Steven Brault v Adrian Houser; Gregory's Back

Game: The Pirates Home Opener starts at 7:05 against the Brew Crew, with both squads sporting a 1-2 record. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. 

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Kevin Newman SS, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Jose Osuna RF, Gregory Polanco DH, Jake Stallings C, Jarrod Dyson CF and Steven Brault P. El Coffee is back a little sooner than expected, Joey O earned another shot in right and in an attempt to jump start Reynolds, he's been moved to fifth in the lineup.

Bryan Reynolds gets his spot juggled - image Pirates

Pitchers:  LHP Steven Brault v RHP Adrian Houser. It'll be an interesting start for Brault; he'll be on a short lease pitch-wise as he's not up to full strength yet, so it should be a bullpen day; we'd expect Chad Kuhl to piggyback. Steven was 0-1/3.51 in five starts against the Crew last year, so he tosses pretty well against them. Houser faced the Bucs three times last year, going 1-1/6.37, so it's a favorable matchup on paper, at least in the early going.

Notes:

• Rearranging the roster: Gregory Polanco was activated late today and Jason Martin returned to the Altoona squad.
• Although the stands will be empty, the Pirates will honor local health workers, medical professionals and first responders before the game along with a video board salute. Allegheny Health Network's Fred Neverman will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and the National Anthem will be sung by Babette Saunders, an 18-year ER clerk at Jefferson Hospital.
• There are no unbeaten teams left. It's the first time since 1954 - when there were only 16 MLB teams - that no team started 3-0. And for the first time since 1961, there are no teams without a win after three games. ESPN Stats
  
• In a not very encouraging sign for the season, Miami is imploding with Covid cases - at least 14 players & staffers have tested positive today. The team is in Philly currently, where they just finished a series, and their Home Opener tonight v the O's has been postponed. So has the Phils-Yankees contest, scheduled for Philadelphia.
• J-Hay officially signed with the Nats and is now on their 30-man. RHP Dario Agrazal, who appeared for the Bucs last year, was placed on the IL by the Tigers with a forearm strain.