Game thread: Cervelli returns as Bucs host Padres

The Pirates get one of their two injured players back as San Diego comes into town for a four-game set. Starling Marte remains out, but he sounds like he’s ready to try to play through the injury. I’m guessing he won’t care that I think that’s a terrible idea. But Francisco Cervelli is back and making the third start of his career in the #3 spot.

Pirates’ starter Chad Kuhl will be facing the first of what figures to be at least two lefties in this series, with the Padres’ Sunday starter still TBD. Eric Lauer’s ERA is juuuust a bit high, at 8.27. His peripherals aren’t any better, as he’s had problems with everything there is to have problems with: hits, gopher balls and walks. The Padres’ lineup isn’t exactly imposing, either. They rank next-to-last in the NL in runs and OPS, ahead of only Miami and well behind everybody else.

Game time is 7:05pm.

Padres

1. Travis Jankowski, RF
2. Eric Hosmer, 1B
3. Franchy Cordero, LF
4. Jose Pirela, 2B
5. Rafael Lopez, C
6. Corey Spangenberg, 3B
7. Freddy Galvis, SS
8. Manuel Margot, CF
9. Eric Lauer, P

Pirates

1. Max Moroff, 2B
2. Gregory Polanco, RF
3. Francisco Cervelli, C
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. Corey Dickerson, LF
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Sean Rodriguez, CF
8. Jordy Mercer, SS
9. Chad Kuhl, P