Sunday Finale: Wil Crowe v Carlos Martinez As Bucs Look To Salvage Series

Today's Game: The game starts 1:05 and will be carried in AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Allegheny Health will be giving out a Wonder Woman bobblehead today.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B; Bryan Reynolds CF; Colin Moran Moran 1B; Todd Frazier 3B; Gregory Polanco RF; Erik Gonzalez SS; Jake Stallings C; Ka'ai Tom LF; Wil Crowe P. Shelty is shakin' up the lineup a bit on this fine Sunday. We'll be keepin' our eye on Tom. We dunno if it's just small sample size, bad ball luck or slow reads', but he's had more balls go off his glove than a backstop trying to catch a knuckleballer.

E-Gone gets his sixth start at short - photo Pgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Wil Crowe (0-0/3.86) closes out the homestand against RHP Carlos Martinez (1-4/4.76). Crowe got his first start of the year against the Twins on the 25th. His control needs sharpening; we'll see how that goes today. Wil has never faced the Cards. He went four frames (81 pitches) allowing a run on four hits, two walks and three K's. Adam Wainwright was scheduled to go today, but is on the IL under the Covid protocol and Martinez moved up (he still has four days rest). He looks like he's getting back in the groove; he's been solid in his last two outings. Martinez has seen the Buccos plenty, with 32 appearances (13 starts) and a line of 6-6-5/3.58.

Notes:

• Another step forward: Ke'Bryan Hayes is taking soft toss BP.
• The Toddfather is the first player to wear uniform #99 for the Pirates. Previous player numbers had topped out at #97, worn by Joe Beimel in 2011.
• The latest Bucco game is "Where's Luis?" as in Rule 5 guy Luis Oviedo, who hasn't pitched since April 15th. Hurt? Getting fine tuned by the coaches? Called Shelty a nasty name? Whatever, the Pirates ain't tellin'...
• The Pirates will begin the season with six-man minor league rotations at all four levels.

Tomorrow's Game: The Bucs head to San Diego for a quick rematch with the Padres. The road trip will consist of six games in seven days, with a trip to Wrigley following the Friars' three-game set. The contest will start at 10:10 and be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Tyler Anderson opens against TBA.