Mitch v Daniel Norris, Lineup & Notes

Game: Opening pitch is at 7:05 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. It’s a Tuesday Pup Night. Overcast skies w/possible light rain are expected, so the Groundhog Day forecast continues…

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Elias Diaz C, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Adam Frazier 2B, Mitch Keller P. Gregory and Redbeard are on the pine, presumably because of a LHP on the hill. Righties have a better BA and lefties a higher OPS against Norris, so six of one…

Pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (0-1/15.43) opens the two game quickie set against LHP Daniel Norris (2-5/4.62). This will be Mitch’s first PNC start, and maybe some home cookin’ is what he needs. The Pirates like him to establish the fastball early in the game, probably to set up Keller’s bread-and-butter hook later; we’ll see if they tweak that formula tonight. He’s also been working the outside part of the plate, tho he’s had more big league success on the inside (warning: SSS), so that may be part of the learning curve, too. Norris started the year in the Tiger pen and in late April joined the rotation, where he’s become a “quality start” kinda guy. He tossed two innings of relief against Pittsburgh in 2018, giving up a run on two hits with two whiffs.

Notes:

• No Jordy or J-Hay this series; both are on the IL for the Tigers.
• The Pirates removed RHP Chris Stratton from 10-day IL and optioned RHP Yefry Ramirez back to Indy.
• Jordan Lyles tossed some live BP today and could be back in the saddle this week.
• Today and tomorrow, Eli concludes his “Shoes for Venezuela” campaign at PNC Park. Fans are asked to donate a pair of new shoes at one of the six 50-50 kiosks in the ballyard to receive an invite to a special meet and greet with Elias on Thursday.
• RHP JT Brubaker begins his rehab with the WV Black Bears. He was a guy the Bucs counted on to provide some starting depth from Indy before he suffered a forearm strain on May 1st.
• Little late, but Bradenton’s Cal Mitchell and Travis Swaggerty led the South Division to a 2-0 victory in the Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday. Mitchell, the MVP, doubled twice and Swaggerty homered.

• Will Matthiesen, an OF/P from Stanford and the Bucs 6th round pick in the draft, signed yesterday for $261,200, a couple of shekels under slot. He’s expected to play the pasture for Pittsburgh.
• The Goose is loose again; IF Phil Gosselin cleared waivers and was sent by the Phils to AAA; TBA if he’ll accept the demotion or become a FA.