Game thread: Gerrit Cole takes on Brewers at Miller Park

The 68-77 Pirates have 17 games left on the 2017 schedule as they evaluate the roster for 2018. At 7:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday night, Gerrit Cole (11-9, 3.93) takes on lefty Brent Suter (2-2, 3.55)

The Brewers, meanwhile, are still very much alive in the pennant race, sitting in third place in the National League Central, 2 ¹⁄₂ games behind the front running Cubs and only 1/2 game behind the second place Cardinals.

Against Suter, who throws a 86.1 mph 4-seam fastball 53% of the time, along with his change and slider each another 20%, Starling Marte, Adam Frazier and Josh Bell will take a seat while Jordy Mercer and Jordan Luplow top the batting order.

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PIRATES

1 R Jordy Mercer, SS

2 R Jordan Luplow, LF

3 R Andrew McCutchen, CF

4 R David Freese, 3B

5 R Jose Osuna, 1B

6 L Gregory Polanco, RF

7 R Sean Rodriguez, 2B

8 R Chris Stewart, C

9 R Gerrit Cole, RHP

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BREWERS

1 L Eric Sogard, SS

2 S Neil Walker, 2B

3 R Ryan Braun, LF

4 L Travis Shaw, 3B

5 R Domingo Santana, RF

6 L Eric Thames, 1B

7 L Stephen Vogt, C

8 R Keon Broxton, CF

9 L Brent Suter, LHP