Game Thread: Steven Brault faces Cubs in first MLB start of 2017

Filling in for the struggling Ivan Nova, Steven Brault will get his first start at the Major League level, and the Pirates’ first start by a left-hander, of 2017 in tonight’s 7:05 game against the Cubs. Kyle Hendricks will go for Chicago.

Javier Baez is back in the Cubs’ lineup after getting hit in the head on a slide Sunday and being scratched Monday.

The Pirates, knock on wood, appear to be giving Elias Diaz, Jordan Luplow and, with Josh Harrison out, Max Moroff some extended playing time. So that’s good to see.

The lineups:

Cubs

1. John Jay, LF
2. Albert Almora, CF
3. Kris Bryant, CF
4. Ben Zobrist, RF
5. Ian Happ, 2B
6. Javier Baez, SS
7. Victor Caratini, 1B
8. Rene Rivera, C
9. Kyle Hendricks, P

— — —

Pirates

1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Max Moroff, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Jordan Luplow, RF
7. Elias Diaz, C
8. Jordy Mercer, SS
9. Steven Brault, P