Bucs-Braves, Nova v Gausman, Lineup & Notes

Today: It’s a 7:05 first pitch with the game being aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. And *tail wag* it’s Pup Night. The weather will be iffy, depending on when the forecast t-storms clear the area.

Pitchers: RHP Ivan Nova (7-7, 4.26) goes against Kevin Gausman (7-9, 4.22). Ivan was strong in his last outing and the Pirates are 5-2 over his past seven starts. Nova has posted a 3-2/3.72 slash during that stretch. So hopefully streaky Ivan is getting set for another strong run tonight. He went 2-0 against the Braves in 2017, giving up five runs (four earned) in 14-1/3 IP on 16 hits. Gausman went from the cellar in Baltimore to the penthouse at Atlanta, and was one of the deadline trinkets the Bucs were reported to have interest in. The righty has gone 2-1/2.84 in three Bravo starts, so the change has sat well with him. He’s gone against the Pirates twice, both last year, without much success – he’s 0-1/8.44, giving up 10 runs in 10-2/3 IP.

Lineup: Corey Dickerson LF, Adam Frazier CF, Gregory Polanco RF, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Adeiny Hechavarria SS, Kevin Newman 2B & Nova P. J-Hay is out with a hammy and Starling is sick or something.

Notes:

• Starling visited a doctor this morning; no reason given. Maybe it’s for hoof-in-mouth disease after he said fans shouldn’t boo but more supportive after jaking it the other night. Whatever the diagnosis, he’s not starting tonight.
• J-Hay’s hammy is still sore, but he’ll be available off the bench.
• Per Joe Block, the last time the Pirates lost three 1-0 games in a week was 8/31-9/1, 1917 (three times in a row, single game & twin bill). They lost 1-0 seven times and won six games by the same score in 1917 while they’re 4-4 in 1-0 contests this season.
• Fran Cervelli gets a little philosophical in his article for The Players Tribune.
• Joe Orsatti of Baseball Essential thinks Jung Ho Kang, who the Pirates are likely to non-tender, could be the best deal on next year’s free agent market…for the right team. 
• The Nats began their fire sale today and the Central Division jumped right in – Daniel Murphy went to the Cubs (minor league player) and Matt Adams returned to the Cards (cash deal). And this may sound familiar – Washington is seeking “financial flexibility” for next season.