JT v Dane Dunning, Lineup & Notes

Game: It’s a 7:05 start, with the series-ending game broadcast by Fox Sports 1, AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier LF, Erik Gonzalez SS, Bryan Reynolds CF, Colin Moran 1B, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell DH, Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B, Kevin Newman 2B, Jake Stallings C and JT Brubaker P. Yesterday’s lineup repeated, with Redbeard flipped to 1B and J-Bell to DH, which is how it should be.

Pitchers: RHP JT Brubaker (1-0, 3.96) closes the quickie set against Dane Dunning (0-0, 3.86). JT won his first MLB match in his last outing against the Cubs and he’s gone five innings/80+ pitches in each of his last two starts. Bru’s also shown the ability to miss bats with 17 K in his last 14 IP as he continues solidify a grip on a 2021 rotation spot. 25-year-old Dunning came up in late August after recovering from 2019 TJ surgery, and this will be his fourth MLB start; he has two meh outings and one good one on his resume so far.

Notes:

• Don’t worry about a scorebook tonight; all the Pirates will be sporting #21 as this is Clemente Day around MLB. Joey Cora will be the first Puerto Rican to wear # 21 for the Pirates since Roberto.
• OF Anthony Alford underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his fractured right elbow and should be ready to go when Spring Training 2021 rolls around. Other injury news: Mitch Keller threw a three inning sim game, Keone Kela tossed off a mound for the first time and Yacksel Rios had a “setback” and was shut down.
• The Pirates are off tomorrow, then begin a six-day, seven-game road trip to KC and Cincy.