Monday: Steven Brault v Jake Arrieta, Lineup, Preview, Notes

Tonight: The Wrigley Field opener begins at 8:05 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Steven Brault (0-1, 3.60) will open the Cubbie set against Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.62). Brault is making his third start, this one in place of Gerrit Cole. Steven has showed some control/pitch count issues (5 BB in 10 IP and 188 pitches tossed) in the bigs. Also, for a soft contact, sinker-ball guy, his 12/20 GB-to-FB ratio needs flipped as it suggests too many elevated pitches. But for all that, he's been at least workmanlike in his outings. He hasn't been very sharp since returning to Indy, but that's common of demoted guys; look no further than Josh Bell. Arrieta blanked the Padres for eight innings on Tuesday, and though he did have a rough spell around the ASG, in five of his last seven outings he's given up two or fewer runs. And he has the hoo-doo over the Bucs - he's 9-2/1.99 lifetime, 3-1/2.67 this year, so it's no easy joust for Mr. Brault. The good news is the Pirates chased Jake after six frames at PNC Park the last time he faced them, so he's not bulletproof.

Steven Takes On Jake At Wrigley (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, Brault P. Clint is sticking to the new normal against Jake.

Preview: The Cubs (82-47) were the first and still only MLB team to notch 80 victories this season, and their home field record of 45-19 (.703) sure helped. Against the Pirates, da Cubbies are 5-1 in Chi-town and 9-3 overall this year. In the last month, they've gone 23-7 to build a 14-1/2 game pad over Pittsburgh in the division. The Cubs are human, coming off a 5-4 road trip, but the Pirates have been outscored 38-18 in six Wrigley games, so there's still that voodoo that they do. But if the guys can sweep four games at Milwaukee, anything's possible...

• The Pirates have won eight straight road games. 
• Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs digs into what has turned Ivan Nova around. Seems like Uncle Ray didn't have to use pixie dust, but just stoked his confidence and aggressiveness up a notch, the winning formula used for JA Happ last year.
• @gbrowniepoints reported that Neal Huntington will have a scout watching Tim Tebow's workout Tuesday. 
• Tyler Glasnow was taken off the DL and optioned him to Indy.

8/29 Happenings: HBD Pep, Dode, Billy; WENS-TV; Ray, Byrne Deals & More...

• 1907 - IF Lemuel Floyd “Pep” Young was born in Jamestown, North Carolina. He played eight years (1933-40) for the Bucs, hitting .264 and playing mainly second, but with some short and third thrown in. The high tide of his career was in 1938, when he received some votes for the NL MVP after hitting .278 in 149 games. As fate would have it, he hurt his knee the next season, and played just 93 games over the final three years of his career (1940-41; 1945). He came by his nickname honestly. Per the Harrisburg Daily Independent, "He is the sort of player...who is on his toes all the time, chock full of life and ginger. It was his great display of energy in the minors that earned him the nickname of 'Pep.'"

Pep Young 1936 National Chicle Fine Pen

• 1909 - The Pirates traded 3B Jap Barbeau, 2B Alan Storke, and cash to the Cardinals for 3B Bobby Byrne. Byrne had his best years as a Buc, playing through the 1913 season and hitting .277 while helping the Pirates to the 1909 World Series title.
• 1918 - C Joe “Dode” Schultz Jr. was born in Chicago. He played for the Bucs from 1939-41, hitting .231 as a seldom used reserve and pinch hitter. His dad, Joe Sr., was also a Pirate, donning the Bucco uni in 1916. Dode went on manage the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and replaced Billy Martin as the Tigers skipper in 1973 to cap a long minor league coaching career. As for his nickname, Rory Costello of SABR wrote “As a child, Joe’s parents nicknamed him Dode, although the boy (Joe) ‘had no idea what it meant, if anything.’”
• 1919 - SS Billy Cox was born in Newport, located in central Pennsylvania. He got a September call-up in 1941, spent four years in the service and became the starting Bucco shortstop in 1946-47, batting .280. He was traded to Brooklyn, moved to the hot corner, and played seven seasons for them and in three World Series.

Billy Cox 1941 (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• 1953 - TV station WENS (Channel 16) kicked off its entry into the Pittsburgh market by being the first to televise a Pirate game from Forbes Field. There were two high cameras (one behind home, the other on the first base line; eventually, a third field-level camera was added) and the radio announcers, Rosey Rowswell & Bob Prince, did the play-by-play. Oh, the Bucs lost to the St. Louis Cards 5-4 in front of 3,145 that Saturday afternoon despite 2B Johnny O’Brien’s three hits. WENS chose the ballgame to start as they were heavily into sports, televising not only the Bucs but Duquesne basketball and Pittsburgh Hornet hockey. WENS (W-Entertainment, News, Sports) was an ABC affiliate and went off the air in 1957 after Channels 4 & 11 were licensed.
• 1965 - Hall of Fame OF’er Paul “Big Poison” Waner died in Sarasota, Florida at age 62. Among his many marks were a .333 lifetime BA, 3,152 hits and a 1927 MVP award. During retirement, he owned a batting cage establishment in Harmarville. One of the guys he helped develop there was rookie shortstop Dick Groat of Wilkinsburg.
• 1970 - Dave Giusti was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirate Cutthroat.” He finished his “cutthroat” season 9-3 with 26 saves and a 3.06 ERA.

Johnny Ray 1987 Fleer

• 1987 - The Pirates traded 2B Johnny Ray to the Angels for two minor leaguers, 3B Bill Merrifield and LHP Miguel Garcia. With Jose Lind in the wings, the Pirates thought Ray was expendable after seven years and a .286 BA. Maybe he was, but they Bucs sure didn’t get much - Merrifield never played for Pittsburgh and Garcia made 13 Pirate appearances with a 7.71 ERA while Ray won an All-Star berth and hit .296 in four seasons for the Halos before closing his career in Japan.

8/29 Games: Friend, Robby Do It All; AVS's First HR; J-Hay Day; Gems & More

• 1958 - The Bucs squeaked out a 3-2 win against Milwaukee at County Stadium. Dick Stuart went long to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the first inning and Bob Skinner made it 2-0 in the fourth with another solo homer. The Bucs pushed across the winning run in the seventh when Hank Foiles brought Frank Thomas home to give Bob Friend the win with ninth inning help from Don Gross.

Frank Thomas 1958 Topps

• 1959 - Bob Friend helped himself by driving in three runs with a two-out, bases loaded double and tossed a nine hitter against the Phils in an 11-1 romp at Forbes Field. Smoky Burgess also chased home a trio of runs with a pair of homers while Dick Groat added four hits.
• 1984 - God helps those who help themselves: RHP Don Robinson pitched two scoreless innings of relief, knocked in the go-ahead run and scored the insurance marker as the Pirates beat the Astros, 4-2, at The Astrodome. Robinson broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 9th inning with a two-out single and touched home for the fourth run after Tony Pena followed with a double.
• 1987 - Lotta firsts: Andy Van Slyke hit his first career homer - a two out grand slam - in an 8-2 win against the Houston Astros at TRS, extending the Bucco win streak to five games. Mike LaValliere also went deep for the first time on the season while Mike Bielecki picked up his first win of the campaign while tossing the first complete game of his career. His six-hitter topped Nolan Ryan and Larry Anderson. Bobby Bonilla added three hits, including a double, and chased home three runs.

Mike Bielecki 1987 Topps

• 1988 - LHP Dave LaPoint became the first Pirate starter to begin his career here with three one-run or fewer starts when he whipped the Reds 8-1 at Riverfront Stadium. He was obtained for reliever Barry Jones in August from the White Sox, finished the year 4-2, and then signed with the Yankees as a FA the following season.
• 1990 - Barry Bonds went 3-for-4 with five RBI to lead the Bucs to a 10-0, rain-shortened seven inning win over the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton Stadium. Jeff King added three RBI, two off sac flies, as Doug Drabek won his 17th game. The game ended a four game losing streak and followed a clubhouse meeting held by manager Jim Leyland after a lackadaisical 9-0 loss the night before.
• 1995 - RHP Paul Wagner came within one strike of a no-hitter with a one-hit, 11K, 4-0 win over the Rox at TRS. With two away in the ninth, 1B Andres Galarraga chopped a 3-2 pitch past the mound and over second, where Nelson Liriano made the grab but couldn’t beat The Big Cat to first with his throw. For Wagner, it was just his third win against 13 losses, and the win snapped a six game Pittsburgh losing string.

Paul Wagner 1997 Circa

• 2000 - Kris Benson shut out the Giants 8-0 at TRS. He gave up one hit in eight frames, a first inning single to Barry Bonds. The Pirates banged four doubles (two by Enrique Wilson), a triple and a homer (John Vander Wal) off Livian Hernandez, who only managed to get six outs before getting the hook.
• 2006 - The Pirates scored twice in the 11th on an error and bases loaded walk to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at PNC Park. Matt Capps, the sixth Pirate pitcher, picked up the win while Xavier Nady went 3-for-5 with a double and couple of runs scored.
• 2012 - The Pirates made their last push of the year by dropping the Cards by a 5-0 score behind Wandy Rodriguez at PNC Park. Pedro Alvarez banged a three run homer to lead the attack. The Bucs moved within a game of the wildcard, having shut out the Redbirds 9-0 the day before with El Toro adding another pair of homers and four RBI in support of James McDonald. It was just a tease; Pittsburgh finished September 7-21 and ended the season with just 79 wins.

Wandy Rodriguez 2012 Topps Update

• 2014 - It was Josh Harrison day at PNC Park against the Cincinnati Reds. Presented with the Heart & Hustle Award before the game, Harrison had the key hit in the Pirates 2-1 come-from-behind win. His triple scored Andrew Lambo to tie the game in the eighth inning, and Josh came home with the game winner on Jose Tabata’s chopper through a drawn-in infield. Not only did he have three hits, but made several web-gem plays during the contest, the best of the bunch being a diving stop that he turned into a 5-3 DP and a hustling chase of a bad relay that led to a runner cut down at home. Edinson Volquez had a no-hitter through six frames, but got a no-decision when Tony Watson allowed a soft single to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Watson got the win and Mark Melancon tossed a perfect ninth for the save. The game was played before a sellout crowd of 37,209 fans.

Home Run Or No Count: Bucs Broom Brewers 3-1

First inning, no probs for Chase Anderson who 1-2-3'ed the Bucs. Ivan Nova gave up a two-out double to Hernan Perez, the latest in a cast of Brew Crew nemeses, but no other damage.  The second was equally quiet. Pittsburgh got a bunt single and swiped sack from Starling while a HBP followed by a DP was Milwaukee's output. Pittsburgh went down without a peep in the third. With two gone, Nova hung a curve to Jonathan Villar and he crushed it to make it 1-0 Brew Crew.

Sweet back-to-back starts for Ivan Nova (photo Fred Vuich/AP)

In the fourth, a Cutch single, El Coffee walk and Starling blooper loaded 'em up, and that's just how the Buccos left them. The Brewers went down in order. Anderson fanned the side in the fifth; Ivan gave up another two-out two bagger that left no scars. The Pirates finally hit paydirt in the sixth, JJ smacked his first homer since June, a crush job into the RF second tier. After an out, it was Gregory's turn as he lined a changeup into the RF stands. Jhan Marinez came on to shut the gate, but not until he drilled Freeser in the shoulder blade with a running heater. Nova did what a pro does and tucked the Brewers away without a peep.

Marinez bopped Matt Joyce in the foot and walked a pair, but escaped unscathed in the seventh. Antonio Bastardo used nine pitches to produce two whiffs and an 0-2 fly out. (Ivan was working on a 75 pitch three hitter, but his hammy acted up and Clint kept him in the clubhouse). Carlos Torres took the ball in the eighth and Starling Marte added a bit of insurance by lining a shot over the LCF fence. Felipe Rivero gave up a two-out infield single in an otherwise spotless frame. Rob Scahill was nicked only by an infield bleeder in the ninth. Tony Watson made it interesting just a bit by yielding a two-out single, but finished it up with a K for his 10th save.

JJ's homer got the ball rollin' in Brewtown (photo Bruce Dill/USA Today)

A sweep at Miller Park.  Next thing ya know, they'll be winning a series at Wrigley Field.

• Pittsburgh had seven hits. Starling Marte had three of them and was the only player on either team to have more than one knock.
• The Pirates swept a four-game series in Milwaukee for the first time ever today. They hadn't swept a three-game or better series at Miller Park since 2004.
• Ivan Nova said after the game that he expects to make his next start. His left hammy tightened and he was removed mostly as a precautionary measure.

Sunday: Ivan Nova v Chase Anderson, Lineup, Notes

Today: The grand finale will begin at 2:10 and be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. The Bucs are going for a brooming; they have never swept a four-game series at Miller Park.

Pitchers: Ivan Nova (10-6, 4.55; 3-0, 3.20 Pgh) concludes the set against Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.99). Nova hasn't lost as a Bucco yet, and is coming off a gem against Houston after some mixed results in his first three outings. Not too surprisingly, he's never faced Milwaukee. Fun fact - Of the catchers that have worked 100+ IP with Ivan, the two who have teamed up best with him re: career ERA are Fran (4.20) and Stew (3.11). Despite his meh stat line, Anderson has pitched quite well since July, and has a win over the Pirates, going five solid innings while giving up one unearned run on four hits, two walks and seven K.

Ivan and Fran are simpatico. (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, John Jaso 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, Nova P. JJ gets back into the lineup now that his stroke is improving, and the rest is Clint's A-Team.

• The Pirate bullpen was short yesterday and will be short again today. Juan Nicasio, Jeff Locke  and Neftali Feliz are likely out, while Tony Watson and Felipe Rivero have worked 3-of-4 games. So Clint would like to get six frames out of Ivan today; seven would be ideal.
• Pirates recalled AJ Schugel and optioned Adam Frazier to Bristol. That has to do with the above note; the Pirates are short on arms. Bristol's season ends Friday, so it will be a quick turnaround for Fraze to return to the big club.
• Steven Brault will get the ball tomorrow at Chicago. As for Cole Train, Neal Huntington told the press gang that he felt some pain coming from outside his elbow. The Bucs checked it out and didn't discover any ligament damage, but are sending him to LA for a second opinion this week to be sure. Gerrit will miss at least one start.

8/28 Happenings: HBD Jolly Cholly & Howie; Schmidt, Oberkfell Deals, Ray Wins #27, Donie Goes

• 1898 - Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm was born in St. Louis. The 1B played six years (1919-24) in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, but made his reputation with Chicago in the following dozen years after a big 1924 trade sent him to the Cubs. He earned his nickname for his cheerful, upbeat manner, ala Chuck Tanner.
• 1911 - Pirate super scout Howie Haak was born in Rochester, NY. Pittsburgh discovered much of its legendary Latino talent from the mid-1950s through the 1980s thanks to Haak's efforts. He recommended that Pittsburgh draft Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn system and signed Manny Sanguillen, Omar Moreno and Rennie Stennett of Panama; Julian Javier, Tony Pena, Jose DeLeon, and Cecilio Guante of the Dominican Republic; Al McBean of the Virgin Islands and Roman Mejias of Cuba.

Howie Haak (photo Getty Images)

• 1929 - Donie Bush resigned as the Pirate manager, replaced by coach Jewel Ens. Bush took the team to the World Series in 1927, where they were swept by the Murderer’s Row Yankees and played without Kiki Cuyler, who Bush had benched. The Pirates had lost 8-of-9 when Bush resigned and were 14-½ games behind the eventual titlists, the Chicago Cubs.
• 1940 - Homestead Grays RHP Ray Brown earned his 27th consecutive victory over a two year span when he shut out the Baltimore Elite Giants 5-0 on three hits, bringing his record to 12-0 (he finished 15-4). Brown played for Cum Posey's Grays from 1932 to 1945, winning 109 games in his career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.
• 1988 - The Atlanta Braves sent IF Ken Oberkfell and cash to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Tommy Gregg. Oberkfell spent a season and change with the Bucs as a seldom used reserve while Gregg played nine more years, mostly as a reserve outfielder.

Ken Oberkfell 1989 Topps

• 1996 - LHP Denny Neagle was traded to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Jason Schmidt, OF Corey Pointer and 1B Ron Wright. Schmidt continued the series of starters developed by the Bucs (like Neagle) who blossomed elsewhere because of salary constraints in Pittsburgh.

8/28 Games: Kiki, Gus Rake; Petey, Byrd Bombs; Howie, Deacon Gems & More

• 1925 - The Pirates hung on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9 at the Baker Bowl. Kiki Cuyler had four hits, including a pair of inside-the-park homers, Eddie Moore and Clyde Barnhart added three knocks apiece and George Grantham homered. Babe Adams and Tom Sheehan gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ray Kremer had to come on to get the final out with the bases juiced. He retired pinch hitter Nelson “Chicken” Hawks, who was batting for the second time in the inning and already had a hit and run under his belt.

Kiki Cuyler (photo via Baseball Hall of Fame)

• 1930 - The Pirates scored in double figures for the third straight game, beating the Cincy Reds 11-2 at Forbes Field in the second game of a twin bill after winning 16-12 in the lid lifter. The club started the streak at Wrigley Field with a 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs. Gus Suhr went 7-for-13 with six runs, eight RBI, two homers, two triples and a double over that span.
• 1951 - The Bucs ended the New York Giant’s winning streak at 16 games, the longest since 1935, when LHP Howie Pollet tossed a six hit shutout for a 2-0 win at the Polo Grounds. The Pirates only had three hits (two by rookie Frank Thomas), but were issued eight free passes (three to Ralph Kiner), and both Bucco runs were unearned.
• 1956 - The Bucs spotted Warren Spahn and the first place Milwaukee Braves a four run lead at County Stadium, then scored four times in the seventh to tie the game on the back of Dale Long’s three run homer. The Pirates took command the next frame when Dick Groat’s two-out infield knock to the SS hole plated Frank Thomas. A tag team sixth-inning catch may have ignited the Bucs: per The Milwaukee Journal's Cleon Walfoort "Clemente and Bill Virdon robbed Spahn of an extra-base hit and the Braves of one or more runs. Clemente got his glove on the ball against the fence and Virdon grabbed it as it squirted out. It was just after this remarkable catch that the Pirates came to life."

Bill Virdon 1957 Topps

• 1959 - Vern Law whitewashed the Philadelphia Phillies 9-0 on five hits at Forbes Field, striking out seven and supported by three solo homers off the bats of Roberto Clemente, Smoky Burgess and Rocky Nelson. Clemente’s was an inside-the-park four bagger that hit off the flagpole in left center 457’ away on one hop, the deepest part of Forbes Field. Pittsburgh banged out ten hits and were helped by being issued nine walks.
• 1967 - Roberto Clemente had three hits, including two homers, to lead the Bucs to a 4-3 win over the Braves. He hit the game winner with two out in the tenth at Atlanta Stadium. Denny Ribant got the win, and Juan Pizarro the save.
• 1974 - The Giants banged out 14 hits at Candlestick Park, but the Bucs took home the win 3-1 in 11 innings on Ed Kirkpatrick’s two out double. San Francisco stranded 16 runners as Jerry Reuss and game winner Dave Giusti bent but didn’t break.

Dave Giusti 1974 Topps

• 2012 - Pedro Alvarez hit the longest homer by a Pirate to date at PNC Park, bombing a sixth inning Brandon Dickson delivery 469’. The shot cleared the seats in center and bounced onto the Riverwalk beside the Allegheny River during the Bucs 9-0 win over St. Louis. El Toro also added a 422’ shot in the third off Jake Westbrook as James McDonald got the win.
• 2013 - Newly acquired Marlon Byrd hit a homer and tallied three RBI in his first game with the Bucs to ice Pittsburgh’s 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park, with Charlie Morton getting the victory. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Byrd was the third Pirate player to hit a home run and have at least three RBI in his first game with the team after playing for another MLB team earlier in the season. Derrek Lee hit two dingers and had three RBI on August 1st, 2011 after being traded from the Orioles and Shawon Dunston hit two long balls and drove in four runs on September 2nd, 1997 after being acquired from the Cubs.

J-Hay, Cutch, El Coffee & The Pen Boost Bucs To 9-6 Win

J-Hay opened the game with a rap to right off Jimmy Nelson. A swinging bunt moved him up 90' and a swipe got him to third. A two-out walk to Matt Joyce put Bucs at the corners and Starling's double over the 3B bag brought home a run before the fun ended. The Brewers came back with a vengeance against Jameson Taillon. A bloop single and walk with an out got him in a jam, then a changeup that was down but over the middle of the plate was shipped into the stands by Hernan Perez. An out later, a double and single tacked on another tally before JT K'ed Nelson.

Three grounders, three outs for the Pirates in the second. Jamo tossed a clean frame, too. Josh singled and stole a base in the third, but was left at third. Perez led off with his second long fly, this time connecting on a 3-1 center cut fastball. With two gone, an infield single and double almost rang up another point, but the Marte-to-Mercer-to-Fryer tag team got the final out at home.

Jamo found out it isn't all cookies and cream when you live upstairs (photo Joe Robbins/Getty)

With one gone in the fourth, Fraze singled and Jordy walked. Eric Fryer worked a nine pitch free pass, bringing up John Jaso as JT got a early shower. JJ knocked home a run with a rap. J-Hay blooped a two run single, and he and JJ moved up a station when the throw home bounced away. That extra base proved big when Josh Bell's right side grounder tied it up. Cutch legged out an infield roller, and the Bucs had the lead. Craig Counsell finally got Nelson; po' kid tossed 42 pitches this inning before Tyler Cravy was waved on. He walked Joyce but got a long and loud third out from Starling before any more pillaging occurred. Jeff Locke climbed the hill and the first batter, Cravy, collected his first MLB hit on the first pitch - a 409' homer to tie it. An out and single later, Jordy picked a hot shot and flipped it into two to cruise out of the frame.

The Bucs and Brewers both went down in order in the fifth. Blaine Boyer claimed the hill in the sixth and S-Rod, a defensive sub now at third (don't ask), singled. An out later, Bell went the opp way for  two-bagger and Cutch was given four wide ones to load the sacks. Gregory pinch hit (it was Locke's spot) and his double unclogged the bases to make it 9-6. Juan Nicasio toed the rubber for a 1-2-3 frame. Brent Suter took the ball for the seventh and was nicked for an infield knock by S-Rod, who he picked off after review to end the frame. Juan picked up a pair of whiffs to go with a pop for another clean inning.

Gregory should be cheesin' after his clutch blow (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Suter was touched for another two out knock that didn't hurt in the eighth. Juan gave up a rap but put up another zero in a big-time effort tonight. Both Tony Watson and Felipe Rivero are on the shelf after working three straight contests, so carrying the lead into the ninth was just what the doc ordered.
Suter struck out the side in an impressive outing for the Brew Crew. Neftali Feliz came in for the save against the 8-9-1 hitters on his third straight night of work. He gave up a one-out knock and two-out walk to bring up Ryan Braun as the game-tying run. Drama seems to be the driving force behind Bucco closers, and it continued to the last out. Jordy made a sweet play on Braun and gunned him out by a heartbeat. Counsell challenged - what the heck, it was bang-bang - and lost *whew*

Who'd a thunk the Bucs would take a series at Miller Park after that pitiful home stand? And they go for the sweep tomorrow, a feat they haven't accomplished since 2004. Give winner Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio big props for eating five innings, and Jordy for a couple of web-gems. The Bucs are 1-1/2 games behind the Cards for the last wildcard, seeming to have more lives than your average cat so far during this crazy campaign.

The Energizer Bunny was in the middle of everything (photo Getty Images)

• Today's big news to start: As first reported by @BiertempfelTrib, Gerrit Cole will have his right elbow examined in LA by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and miss his Monday start against the Cubs. He has already had an MRI that revealed that he doesn't have ligament damage, so the doc is looking for something along the lines of a bone spur, etc. We expect that Steven Brault, who is on the 40-man roster and rested enough to go, will get the start.
• Josh Harrison had three hits, two RBIs, two runs and two stolen sacks. Cutch collected a pair of knocks and a walk, scoring once and driving home a run.
• Starling Marte's 16 outfield assists ties his single-season career-high, which he set last year.
• In a bit of near-karmic revenge, Sean Rodriguez nearly was trampled by Milwaukee's mascot sausages as he stepped out of the dugout to take the field in the sixth. Maybe they thought he was Randall Simon's long-lost cousin. 
• @stephenjnesbitt tweeted that Clint Hurdle stopped chewing gum recently because it hurt a muscle in his neck. He posted that Clint said ‏"I've had the greatest emails. [That] I wasn't chewing my gum responsibly. Then there was a big concern because it wasn't sugarless gum."
• Tyler Glasnow's rehab start wasn't real promising for a quick return to viable MLB action. He went three IP, giving up no runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. His control wasn't there. Tyler tossed 58 pitches, 31 for strikes, and threw a first strike to just three of 14 batters that he faced.
• Getting there: Players are eligible for September call up on Thursday, though Indy's season doesn't end until the fifth, which should delay the arrival of the cavalry.
  

Saturday: Jameson Taillon v Jimmy Nelson, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The game is scheduled for 7:10 and be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (3-3, 2.92) goes against Jimmy Nelson (7-13, 4.26) in a matchup of good young righties. With Cole Train being siderailed of late, JT is the de facto leader of the Pirates pitching pack. From the end of June til now, a span of eight starts, he's given up three earned runs just twice and gone at least six frames in every game. Jamo is 0-1 v the Brewers, but only allowed three runs in 12 IP. Nelson's had a bumpy August, but just broke a personal six-game losing streak against the Rox last outing. The Bucs haven't been able to solve him. He's 5-2, 2.55 lifetime against the Pirates and hasn't lost to them at Miller Park. Nelson last faced the Corsairs in April, picking up a win.

JT takes the ball tonight (photo Elsa/Getty)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Matt Joyce RF, Starling Marte LF, Adam Frazier 3B, Jordy SS, Eric Fryer C, Jamo P. Looks as if Josh squared will be a top-of-the-order thing for a while. Fran gets his blow today instead of tomorrow, and Clint's giving Gregory & Freeser rest days, too.

• In his last eight starts, JT has gone 2-2, 2.25. He's worked 52 IP, giving up 13 ER on 42 hits with 45 K and five walks.
• Gerrit Cole didn't throw his scheduled bullpen, so it's possible he's going to be pushed backed from his scheduled Monday start against the Cubs. It could also be that the bossmen decided to give him a brief break from throwing, too. Guess we'll see on Monday.
• Since 8/16, the week before his extension was announced but about when he took over 3B full-time, Freeser has gone 5-for-31 (.161 BA) w/13 whiffs and just one free pass. Prob doesn't hurt to let everything catch up - he's had a lot piled on his plate in the last couple of weeks.

8/27 Happenings: HBD Jordy, Pedro Deal, Byrd Trade, Alleghenys Sunk, Negro League ASG, Tiny's Last Start

• 1887 - The Alleghenys gave up the most runs in franchise history when they were bombed by the Boston Beaneaters 28-14 at North Side's Recreation Park. It was the sixth season of the franchise and its first in the NL, where the Alleghenys finished sixth with a record of 55–69.
• 1939 - Game Two of the Negro League East-West All-Star game was held at Yankee Stadium. The East, behind Homestead Gray C Josh Gibson’s four RBI, won 10-2. Teammate Buck Leonard also started. Held in addition to the All Star Game played in Chicago each year, the second ASG gave more fans an opportunity to eyeball the action in the pre-TV days.

Josh Gibson completes the circuit 1939 (photo via 90 Feet of Perfection)

• 1949 - Pitcher Ernie “Tiny” Bonham won his last MLB start by an 8-2 count over Philadelphia. The ten year vet had complained of stomach problems, and died September 15th at the age of 36 after surgery performed the week before at Presbyterian Hospital uncovered intestinal cancer. His wife Ruth was the first baseball widow to collect a death benefit under the new player pension plan, receiving $90 a month for the next 10 years.
• 1986 - SS Jordy Mercer was born in Seiling, Oklahoma. He was third-round draft choice in 2008, and the Oklahoma State product also played for Team USA. Mercer rode the pine in 2012, but saw some playing time in 2013 and won the starting job the next season.
• 2008 - Pedro Alvarez was placed on the restricted list after the MLBPA filed a grievance against MLB over draft picks being signed minutes after the August 15th deadline. On September 22nd, Álvarez and the Bucs settled on a four-year major league deal at $6.4M to resolve the complaint.

Petey & the FO had to burn the midnight oil to strike a deal (photo USA Today)

• 2013 - Looking to strengthen the roster down the stretch, the Pirates pulled off a waiver deal with the NY Mets for OF Marlon Byrd, C John Buck and $250K for minor league IF Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later (RHP Victor Black).