Chad v Adrian Houser, Lineup & Notes

Game: The Brew Crew (11-12) visits PNC Park for a 7:05 game. The match will be aired on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Erik Gonzalez 3B, Kevin Newman SS, Josh Bell DH, Colin Moran 1B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Cole Tucker CF, Adam Frazier 2B, John Ryan Murphy C and Chad Kuhl P. Fraze sinks to the eight spot in the order. TBH, any Bucco batting after Newman deserves that slot.

Chad on the bump - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Chad Kuhl (0-1/3.38) opens against RHP Adrian Houser(1-1, 3.27 ). Whip is coming around; he's fanned 18 in 14 frames and just issued four walks. He faced the Brewers earlier in the year and tossed 3-2/3 scoreless IP, giving up three hits and walking a pair to go with four fans. He threw 78 pitches in his last outing; it'll be interesting to see how much rope Shelty gives him tonight. Houser's first couple of starts were quite strong; in his last couple, he's given up seven runs in 10 frames, a trend the punchless Pirates hope continues. In his first game, he matched up against Pittsburgh and went five innings, giving up a run on a hit, three walks and four fans.

Notes:

• Ben Cherington told the press gang that there are at least talk-level trade deals being considered, with about everyone on the table. Seems to us like it'd be a sell-low kinda campaign; we'll see what value is placed on the Bucco assets as the trade deadline of August 31 approaches.
• Ben also added that he saw some building blocks on the current club and needs to get some of the Altoona kids (we see ya, K'Bryan) their MLB baptism.
• The Pirates are 1-2 against the Brew Crew, having met at PNC Park in late July and playing a fairly even series (Milwaukee outscored Pittsburgh 15-13).