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The Pittsburgh Pirates will go for their 12th straight win Wednesday, capping off their six game road trip in Cleveland at 1:10 p.m.. It’s a battle of aces, as Jameson Taillon (7-7, 3.80) will take aim against 1st half fWAR leader Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.44).
Taillon has been on a roll since he started throwing his slider and reducing his fastball volume. Since May 27, he has recorded a 3.15 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 1.17 WHIP and 4.1 K/BB. (If you want to read more on this, may I humbly suggest my TPOP piece from a couple weeks ago.)
Bauer was hit hard in his last outing, allowing four runs in four innings. Before that, he had a stretch of eight consecutive quality starts where he recorded a 1.54 ERA while striking out over 5.5 batters per walk.
In Pirates injury news, medical director Tom Tomczyk told reporters that Corey Dickerson’s hamstring injury is “day-to-day.” Dickerson is not starting Wednesday after being pulled in the fourth inning Tuesday night. Tomczyk also said catcher Francisco Cervelli has not had any re-exacerbation of his symptoms and has resumed baseball activities. He still has a battery of tests to pass in the coming days before he can be activated from the seven day Concussion DL.
The Pirates optioned RHP Casey Sadler to AAA for 2B/OF Adam Frazier. Frazier was slashing .223/.289/.298 in Indianapolis.
Lineups
Pirates
LF Jordan Luplow
CF Starling Marte
RF Gregory Polanco
3B Colin Moran
1B Josh Bell
DH David Freese
2B Sean Rodriguez
SS Jordy Mercer
C Jacob Stallings
SS Francisco Lindor
LF Michael Brantley
3B Jose Ramirez
DH Edwin Encarnacion
1B Yonder Alonso
RF Melky Cabrera
2B Jason Kipnis
C Roberto Perez
CF Tyler Naquin