Bucs Host Phils, Williams v Jeremy Hellickson, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The Bucs home stand continues with the Phils coming to PNC Park for a  7:05 match. The game will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan. If you’re thinking of going, it’s supposed to be a nice evening and it’s a Zambelli fireworks night to boot, so…

Lineup: Josh Harrison, 2B, J-Bell 1B, Cutch CF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jose Osuna RF, Danny Ortiz LF, Jordy Mercer SS and Trevor Williams P. Hey, a new second baseman…oh, wait. We’re assuming this is a pre-determined rest day for the red-hot Fraze after starting five straight; at least we hope so. Maybe even more surprising is that JJ got a day off after three consecutive starts. Change is the only constant…

Pitchers: Trevor Williams (2-2, 6.41) v Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.71). Trevor will be making his third start of the campaign as JT’s replacement. He was treated rudely in his first go, but after a bumpy inning or two his last time out, he settled in as the Bucs beat the D-Backs 4-3. Hopefully he keeps it going and gets a good jump out of the gates against Philadelphia, a team which he has never gone against. Jeremy’s name has been out there as trade bait as he approaches free agency at the end of the year, and he’s a solid guy. He coaxes weak contact with his bread-and-butter changeup, is stingy with walks and is a consistent, veteran mid-rotation arm. But he’s had a rough May so far; in three outings, he’s given up 12 runs in 13-2/3 IP and not made it into the sixth inning, so the Bucs may be catching him in a lull period. He’s met the Pirates twice; last year he did a good job of shutting them down, tossing 6-1/3 IP of one-run,  three-hit ball with six K.

Notes:

• After a strong start, the Phils have returned to earth, losing 15-of-18. The yo-yo Buccos are on a little roll, taking 4-of-5. The Pirates are 33-17 all-time against the Phillies at PNC Park and are 11-4 in the last 15 games played in Pittsburgh.
• J-Bell has a six game hitting streak with four homers during that stretch.
• Danny Ortiz got his first MLB hit yesterday and will make his first big-league start tonight.

• Pretty quick payback: J-Bell got his first-ever crack at batting cleanup yesterday and made Clint look good by becoming the first Pirates player since 1900 to homer in the first inning of his first major-league start in the number-four slot per Elias Says.
• Tony Watson will be a FA at the end of the year and decided to switch agents for his coming-out party by hiring Scott Boras, per Steve Adams of MLB Trade  Rumors.
• In The Daily Gammons, Peter Gammons offers a pretty compelling reality check argument for Cole Train to be dealt.