Game Thread: Taillon bids to break the skid

Jameson Taillon (3-5, 4.08) will taker the mound in an afternoon game at Phoenix after the Pirates dropped each of the first two games of the series, guaranteeing another series loss before an off day and a trip home to Pittsburgh. He’ll be opposed by 34 year old veteran right-hander Zach Greinke (5-4, 3.53)

In his third season with the Diamondbacks, Greinke will be making his 14th start of the season. So far he’s average 1.5 walks and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His fastball, averaging 89.5 in 2018, has fallen off more than a whole mph from last last and four from his career best in 2010. He throws a four-seam fastball 38% of the time, two-seam 15%, slider 17%, change 14% and curve 13%

Francisco Cervelli returns to the lineup after a couple days off, suffering the side effects of being hit in the head on a bckswing. Corey Dickerson will be replaced in left field by Austin Meadows and Colin Moran continues to hit in the cleanup spot.

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PIRATES

1 R Josh Harrison 2B

2 L Austin Meadows LF

3 R Starling Marte CF

4 L Colin Moran 3B

5 R Francisco Cervelli C

6 SJosh Bell 1B

7 L Gregory Polanco RF

8 R Jordy Mercer SS

9 R Jameson Taillon RHP

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DIAMONDBACKS

1 L Jon Jay RF

2 R Paul Goldschmidt 1B

3 L Jake Lambg 3B

4 L David Peralta LF

5 S Ketel Marte 2B

6 L Jarrod Dyson CF

7 R Nick Ahmed SS

8 R Jeff Mathis C

9 R Zach Greinke RHP