Game Thread: Game 2 vs Rays, Nova vs Snell

After two straight losses by the bullpen, to the Cardinals on Sunday and the Rays in ten innings on Tuesday, the Pirates look to right the ship behind Ivan Nova (7-5, 3.06) while the Rays counter with lefty Blake Snell (0-4, 4.71)

Snell was recalled today after being demoted to Triple-A on May 14, following his 0-4, 4.71 record in his eight starts with the Rays to start the season. Expect better out of Snell than he’s shown so far this year - in his seven starts with Durham he went 5-0 with a 2.66 ERA, striking out 12.5 batters per 9 innings. In his rookie season last year, Snell went 6-8, 3.54 in 19 starts.

Walks have plagued Snell in the majors. In 27 starts over the last three years in Triple-A, he’s walked 3.3 per 9 and K’d 12.4, but with Tampa it’s 5.2 walks and 9.1 K’s per 9 in 27 total starts.

Snell throws his fastball 57% of the time at 93.6 mph, followed by Change 18%, Slider 13% and Curve 12%. The Pirates send all right-handed batters out to face Snell, who in his MLB career has allowed a 107 tOPS+ to righties (271/365/409) and 71 (252/345/291) to lefties.

To provide that all right-handed lineup, Max Moroff starts for Adam Frazier and leads off, with Josh Harrison switching to left field, and Jose Osuna spells Gregory Polanco in right field. In addition, Elias Diaz gets a turn behind the plate.

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RAYS

1 L Mallex Smith, CF

2 L Corey Dickerson, LF

3 R Evan Longroia, 3B

4 L Logan Morrison, 1B

5 R Steven Souza, RF

6 R Wilson Ramos, C

7 R Tim Beckham, 2B

8 R Adeinis Hechevarria, SS

9 L Blake Snell, LHP

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PIRATES

1 S Max Moroff, 2B

2 R Josh Harrison, LF

3 R Andrew McCutchen, CF

4 R David Freese, 3B

5 R Jose Osuna, RF

6 S Josh Bell, 1B

7 R Elias Diaz, C

8 R Jordy Mercer, SS

9 R Ivan Nova, RHP