Saturday: Game #2 of NY Set, JT v Michael Pineda, Lineup, Notes

Today: This afternoon’s game starts at 4:05 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. Be among the first 20,000 through the turnstiles and you’ll get a free Cutch tee.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco LF, David Freese 3B, John Jaso RF, Fran Cervelli, Jordy Mercer SS & Jameson Taillon P. It’s interesting when a righty starts; Fraze has the hot stick for the RF spot, but JJ looks like a natural OF’er, despite little experience, in the pasture, with the same dynamic in play for second base with J-Hay.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (1-0, 0.90) goes against Michael Pineda (2-1, 3.44). Can’t ask for too much more of the 25-year-old Taillon. JT has gone at least seven innings in two of his first three starts and has been charged with zero earned runs twice. He’s never faced the NYY, but has a 1-1/1.29 line in three career interleague starts. Pineda had a stormy start in his opener, but in the last pair of games has given up just three runs in 14-2/3 IP on eight hits and a walk with 17 K, so he’s been on top of his game lately. This will be the first time the 28-year-old righty has tossed against the Pirates.

Notes:

• J-Bell has homered in back-to-back games. His home run last night was his first career extra base hit off a LHP.
• Last night began a stretch of four lefties slated against the Pirates during the current six-game homestand. The Bucs are 2-4 this season in outings against lefty starters and are hitting just .194 overall against southpaws so far this campaign.
• The Bronx Bombers are 2-5 away from Gotham. The biggest diff? They score nearly six runs per game at Yankee Stadium, but less than four on the road.
• With his 410th career appearance as a Pirate last night, Tony Watson tied Dave Giusti (1970-76) for seventh place on the club’s all-time outing list. Elroy Face tops the chart with 802 appearances. Tony has converted all five of his save chances this season and has gone 20-for-23 in save opportunities since taking over the closer role from Mark the Shark in August of last season.
• Beginning today, José Osuna will wear uniform #36. He wore #64 in spring training and for the first three games of his call-up.