Wednesday: Wil Crowe v Trevor Williams; Ponce Optioned, Mears Called Up

Today’s Game: Game time is 6:35 and the contest will be on AT&T SportsNet PITT2 & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B; Ben Gamel LF; Bryan Reynolds CF; Jake Stallings C; Gregory Polanco RF; Will Craig 1B; Wilmer Difo 3B; Kevin Newman SS, Wil Crowe P.

Pitchers: RHP Wil Crowe (0-2/4.91) meets RHP Trevor Williams (2-2/5.97). Crowe has to figure out a method of damage control against the big inning; in three of his last four outings, a three-run frame has skewered his final line. Wil’s one 2021 start against the Cubs was solid, giving up two runs on four hits in six innings. Willy hasn’t gone five innings this month, so patience is a key. He’s 0-1 in two starts against his old roomies, surrendering seven runs on 15 hits in 7-1/3 innings against Pittsburgh this season.

Notes:

• Cody Ponce was sent back to Indy and RHP Nick Mears was called up.
• Fast starter: Adam Frazier has collected a hit in the first inning in each of the last five games and owns a 10-game hitting streak.
• Clay Holmes has made nine straight scoreless appearances (8 IP) and has been charged with just one earned run over his last 16 appearances (18-1/3 IP). Five of the eight earned runs he has allowed this season came in his outing on April 6th at Cincinnati. 
• The Pirates have allowed a multi-homer game by an opposing player in four straight games, tied for the longest such streak all-time per Stats by STATS.
• Power outage: Pittsburgh is last in homers (30), slugging % (.341), ISO (.113) and 29th in soft contact (20.7%) per Fangraphs.

Tomorrow’s Game:  The matchup has Tyler Anderson closing out the set against Kyle Hendricks. The getaway game is scheduled for 12:35 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and KDKA 101 FM/1020 AM.