Willy v Jordan Zimmermann, Lineup & Notes - Mitch Back to Indy

Game: The game starts at 7:05 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. And yep, rain is expected again. But the Bucs have a way to make the weather more tolerable; tonight, for you local oenophiles (you know who you are), features a wine-tasting promo.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Corey Dickerson LF, Elias Diaz C, Adam Frazier 2B, Trevor Williams P. Gregory and Melky are down today in the outfield polka.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (2-1/3.33) closes the set against RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-4/5.93). Willy is coming off the IL with one meh rehab start to chip away some rust, coupled with a post-game bullpen to get him up to 90 pitches, so he may on a short leash tonight. He tossed six innings against the Tigers in mid-April, giving up two runs in six innings and getting no decision in an eventual 3-2 Bucco win. Zimmermann is making his first star since late April. He hasn’t faced the Pirates this year, but gave up 10 runs (seven earned) in two starts/nine innings against them last year. This is his first start after suffering a sprained UCL. So a pair of banged-up twirlers get back on the bike tonight.

Notes:

• Mitch Keller was optioned back to Indy to clear a roster spot for Willy. Keller has a mixed bag measurement-wise: his ERA is 10.50, his FIP is 3.25, and his xFIP is 4.57 (FIP is calculated using the pitchers actual HR rate; xFIP normalizes HR rate to a league standard). Small sample sizes are great conversation starters…
• Keller’s demotion will have no short term impact on the staff. With tomorrow and the 24th as off days, the Pirates won’t need a fifth starter until they meet the Brewers on the 29th, and Jordan Lyles may be back by then (he makes a rehab start Sunday), which would leave Jamo as the only original starter still out of action. 
• Kevin Newman has a 10-game hitting streak on the line.
• The 13-game stretch for the Pirates that starts on the 25th and leads into the AS break is brutal – they face Milwaukee (3-gamers home & away) 6 times, the Cubs (at home) 4 times and Houston (away) 3 times. 
• The Bucs signed 17th-rounder prep RHP Ryan Harbin for $397,500 ($272,500 over slot and is charged to the pool) per Jim Callis of MLB.com.