Big Joe v Jack Flaherty, Lineup & Notes

Game: The series-ender is late for a Sunday game, with the opening ball tossed at 4:05. The finale will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Bryan Reynolds CF, Adam Frazier 2B, Colin Moran DH, Josh Bell 1B, Erik Gonzalez SS, Greg Polanco RF, Jose Osuna LF, JT Riddle 3B, John Ryan Murphy C and Joe Musgrove. Variety is the spice of Shelty’s life…

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (0-5, 5.74) closes out the set against Jack Flaherty (3-2, 5.52).  Big Joe looked solid in two short-ish starts after coming off the IL, but gave up four runs in five frames last time out. He’s been impressive with the whiffs, fanning 34 in 26-2/3 IP, but needs to do a better job of limiting runs. His FIP is 4.89, bettering his ERA but still nothing to write home about. Don’t let Flaherty’s slash fool ya; he was in the midst of a very strong season when the roof caved in on him against Milwaukee in his last outing, giving up nine runs in three frames. He didn’t have much trouble taming the Pirates in late July, holding them to two runs and six hits in a seven-inning stint with six K. Both theses guys are looking for redemption today.

Notes:

• The Pirates put IF Kevin Newman on the 10-day IL with a “contusion to the peroneal nerve of his left knee.” OF Jason Martin was recalled.
• The Pirates entertain the Cubs for four games after this, then take a three-day trip to Cleveland, and that will do it for the 2020 campaign.