Brew Crew Three-Gamer To End PNC's Season, Ivan v Davies, Lineup & Notes

Today: First pitch is at 7:05 and the game will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.The 14-and-under gang will get a Starling Marte replica jersey, delayed from the recent Marlin rainout with the added attraction of the final Zambelli Fireworks night slated for after the game.

Pitchers: RHP Ivan Nova (9-9, 4.07) opens the three-gamer against RHP Jhoulys Chacin (14-8, 3.54). Ivan’s allowed just one run in his last two stars,lasting 12 innings, and he’s gone 7-4/3.46 in 16 starts since being reinstated from the DL, so he’s been a solid second half contributor. He’s 1-0/1.69 in two starts against the Brew Crew this year. Super Nova had a no-decision in a 2-1 Bucco win in July and won a 3-1 decision last week, cruising through six innings. Chacin has been consistent for Milwaukee, allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his last eight starts. He hasn’t been very lucky against the Bucs though he’s pitched solidly with an 0-3/2.55 slash, and the Brewski Bunch has dropped four of his five 2018 starts against the Buccaneers.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, Pablo Reyes RF, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman SS & Nova P.  Looks like Starling & J-Bell are biometric-proof; those dudes never sit.

Notes:

• The Bucs have been the Brewers kryptonite this year; they’re 11-5 v Milwaukee. The Pirates have been victorious in 11 of the past 14 contests and have won four consecutive one-run games for the first time since 1992, with the only time they’ve won five squeakers in a row back in 1946, per @joe_block.
• Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors looks at the silver lining for non-playoff teams in the Central Division. For the Buccos, it’s pitching, especially if bolstered by some “strategic investments” during the off season. 
• The Pirates have switched Low Class A affiliates, flipping from West Virginia to Greensboro, both members of the Sally League. The Power, based in Charleston, will become a Seattle Mariner feeder while the Grasshoppers had been a long-time Miami Marlin farm club. It’s a two-year deal.
• Backyard Brawl, hardball version: the WV Mountaineers will take on the Pitt Panthers on Tuesday, May 14th, 2019, at PNC Park. The ‘Eers have played Penn State the past two seasons at PNC, and their rivalry with Pitt extends unbroken back to 1895.
• Boy, that was quick – Banny is out as Texas Rangers manager, w/the story first broken by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu has been named interim manager for the remainder of 2018 season effective immediately. Wonderin’ if there may be a Pirates reunion in the cards…?