Sunday Cub Closer: Brault v Lester, Notes & Lineup

Game: The Sunday afternoon closer begins at 2:20 and will be on AT&T Sportsnet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Kevin Newman SS, Jose Osuna 1B, Colin Moran DH, Phil Evans LF, Cole Tucker RF, Guillermo Heredia CF, Jake Stallings C, Erik Gonzalez 3B. J-Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Gregory are off against the lefty Lester (Jarrod Dyson, too) and there's one outfielder by trade actually playing the outfield. Fraze is the only lefty batter in the lineup.

Fraze - 2020 Topps

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (0-0, 0-0) vs. LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 0.00). We guess the two-headed hybrid of Braul and Chad Kuhl are back on the hill. Steven tossed two innings scorelessly and then got pulled after a lengthy rain delay, with Chad picking up the next 3-2/3 and also posting goose eggs in a game the Brew Crew eventually won when the Buc bullpen imploded in the ninth inning. Both looked solid. Not as solid as Lester, who tossed five innings of hitless ball against the Reds in his first outing. He was 3-0/3.16 against the Buccos in 2019, so it's another tough matchup today.

Notes:

• The Pirates put pitchers Mitch Keller (left side discomfort) and Michael Feliz (right forearm discomfort) on the 10-day IL w/no update on the type/severity of their injuries and recalled RHP Cody Ponce and LHP Sam Howard off the taxi squad.
• The Pirates bought RHP Tyler Bashlor from the Mets and DFA'ed Robbie Erlin. The 28-year-old Baslor spent 2018-19 with NY, posting a 5.36 ERA with a good heater and not a lot of control.
• Keone Kela (Covid 19) was cleared to play physically and is back at PNC Park working out.
• Jake Stallings is 3-for-3 against steals and has a backpick; now if the bat just heats up a little.