Friday: JT Brubaker v JA Happ Open Twinkie Series

Today's Game: The Target Field opener begins at 8:10. It will be aired on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Phil Evans LF; Bryan Reynolds CF, Colin Moran DH; Erik Gonzalez 3B; Todd Frazier 1B; Jake Stallings C; Wilmer Difo RF; Kevin Newman SS & JT Brubaker P. If ya got 'em, play 'em.

Toddfather starts at first - 2021 photo Pirates

Pitchers: RHP JT Brubaker (2-0/1.76) hooks up against LHP JA Happ (0-0/3.12). JT started as a cattle call candidate to get a rotation spot and has ended up being its main man so far. Bru only has a dozen starts so he'll still have some bumps to get over, but we're liking what he's shown. He worked three frames against Minny last year and was rudely treated, giving up three runs on four hits with two walks/two whiffs. This will be Happ's third outing, and he's given up three runs on seven hits in 8-2/3 IP with seven K. His pitch count has worked against him; he's been pushing the 90-pitch mark without getting through the fifth inning yet. He's been good against his old mateys: in 10 starts, he's slashed 4-3/2.95, with the caveat that Happ hasn't worked against Pittsburgh since 2017.

Notes:

• Ke'Bryan Hayes' Pittsburgh exam didn't find any structural damage, but suggests that rather than a complete heal, he'll have to play through some soreness. TBD how the Pirates will work around that diagnosis...
• RHP Wil Crowe, RHP Miguel Yajure, LHP Chasen Shreve and C Andrew Susac are on the Pirates taxi squad this trip. The Pirates need a Sunday starter to replace Chad Kuhl, hence the two starters. Shelty hasn't ruled out bullpenning on that date, though, depending on pitcher usage during the first two games.
• OF Alex Kirilloff, 23, of Plum HS/PA Cyber Charter School was called up by the Twins, so the 2016 first-round draft pick has a chance to show his stuff against the hometown nine (he made his debut in the playoffs last year).

Tomorrow's Game: RHP Trevor Cahill goes against RHP Michael Pineda. The game starts at 2:10 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet PITT2 & 93.7 The Fan.