Willy v Dallas Keuchel, Lineup & Notes

Game: The getaway game starts at 2:10 and will aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Cole Tucker CF, Erik Gonzalez SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Josh Bell DH, Gregory Polanco RF, Jake Stallings C, Adam Frazier 2B, Jose Osuna 1B, JT Riddle 3B and Trevor Williams P. Still no Kevin Newman or Colin Moran in the lineup, and you can tell – five Buc starters are hitting below the Mendoza Line.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (1-4, 3.70) closes it out against LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-2, 2.65). Willy has been pretty effective this month, lasting 16 IP in three starts with a 2.81 ERA, and he’s been turning in consistent 90-pitch outings. The question is how far that goes; it was good for seven innings against Minnesota but just four against Cleveland in his last trip to the hill. He’s gone against the Sox twice, both times in 2018, and is 1-0/3.00 in 12 IP. Keuchel has been consistently strong so far this year, although Pittsburgh has been a thorn in his side in a small sampling: his line against the Bucs is 1-2/4.82 in three career starts.

Notes:

• Erik Gonzalez, who walked on four pitches to become the Bucs only baserunner last night, was the last guy you’d suspect to get a free ride – it was the free-swinger’s only free pass in 70 PAs this year.
• BTW, the CWS aren’t a team to sleep on – they’ve won eight of their past nine contests to move within 1-1/2 games of the Twins in the AL Central and hold a wild card spot as of today.
• The Pirates scoot to St. Louis tomorrow to play a doubleheader, and then it’s off to Milwaukee for a four-day set before returning home.