Getaway Day in Arizona, Jamo v Greinke & Notes

Today: The finale starts at 3:40 and will be aired on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan as the Bucs again try to salvage a game from the set.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (3-5, 4.08) closes the set against RHP Zack Greinke (5-4, 3.53). Jamo has been a peaks-and-valley guy so far this season; the Pirates could sure stand a little more consistency from the top of the rotation. This will be Jameson’s first outing against Arizona. The four-time All-Star Greinke at age 34 is sticking to his formula – limit walks, get some swings and misses and give the club six good innings. His red flag this year has been longballs; he’s been tagged for 1.5/nine innings. Zack has started 11 times against Pittsburgh; he’s 7-3, but with an ERA of 4.58. Last year wasn’t one of those outings that he needed much help; he spun an eight-inning one-hitter with 11 whiffs.

Lineup: J-Hay 2B, Austin Meadows LF, Starling Marte CF, Colin Moran 3B, Fran Cervelli C, J-Bell 1B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy SS & Jamo P. Jordy’s back after a plunking last night and Corey D gets a spot on the pine; we’d love to know what dirt Gregory has on Clint. And Cervy is in action today, so he’s finally checked all the boxes in his recovery.

Notes:

• Josh Bell and Josh Harrison have gone 9-for-18 with seven walks and a HBP in the last three games. J-Bell has now reached base safely 10 times in his last 13 plate appearances (six walks, four knocks) while J-Hay has gone 5-for-11 with a homer in the last three games. Elias Diaz has been strong, too, going 5-for-11 with a round-tripper in the past three matches.
• The Pirates are off tomorrow, then open a 10-game homestand against the Reds, Brewers and D-Backs again.