Game Thread: Taillon vs. Bauer

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

Indians

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