Archie v Sandy Alcantara, Lineup & Notes

Game: The last round of the road trip begins at 1:10 and will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds CF, Melky Cabrera RF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Jake Stallings C, Chris Archer P. Ah, gotta love Sunday lineups. Even after Archie’s home run derby last outing, Jake is his caddy again.

Pitchers: RHP Chris Archer (3-6/5.73) closes the long journey against RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-6/3.67). Arch was banged around for five dingers last outing, four in one frame, and hasn’t given up fewer than four runs but once in his last seven starts. He had 19 K in 12 IP against the Fish last year, but also gave up seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits in a pair of no-decisions. Alcantara is a workhorse who runs hot and cold. He’s worked one inning against the Pirates, back in his rookie campaign of 2017.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds is at it again; he has an eight-game hitting streak going into today.
• The Pirates are 1-8 on this road jaunt and have fallen eight games behind the Brewers & Cubs in the Central.
• The Bucs get a day off tomorrow, then host Detroit for a pair, and get another off day before beginning a three-gamer v San Diego. And that’s followed by yet another day off before another road trip. Be nice if they could break up 13-game scheduling blocs as well as they do 5-game homestands.