Game thread: Pirates open series at home against Braves

The Pirates open a three-game set against Atlanta tonight at PNC Park at 7:05pm. The game was supposed to feature the two most prominent starting pitchers who changed teams at the trade deadline. The Braves, however, have scratched Kevin Gausman in favor of right-hander Bryse Wilson, who’ll be making his major league debut. Wilson came into this season as the Braves’ #12 prospect, per Baseball America, and ranked #9 at mid-season. He’s climbed all the way from high A to the majors this year. He had an ERA of 0.34 in five starts in high A, 3.97 in 15 starts in AA, and 4.50 in three starts in AAA. He’s fanned over ten batters an inning at the last two stops. The Pirates counter with Chris Archer, who has yet to provide any evidence to show why they paid an exorbitant price for him.

Clint Hurdle has made some rare changes to the Pirates’ starting lineup. Kevin Newman will make his first big league start and presumably get his first big league at-bat. It won’t be at short, though. Instead, Newman will replace Josh Harrison at second. Adam Frazier, who literally was very nearly the Pirates’ entire offense in their four-game series with Cubs, will replace the struggling, and possibly not healthy, Starling Marte in center.

Also, a roster move:

Braves

1. Ronald Acuna, LF
2. Ender Inciarte, CF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Nick Markakis, RF
5. Johan Camargo, 3B
6. Ozzie Albies, 2B
7. Kurt Suzuki, C
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
9. Bryse Wilson, P

Pirates

1. Corey Dickerson, LF
2. Adam Frazier, CF
3. Gregory Polanco, RF
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. Francisco Cervelli, C
6. Colin Moran, 3B
7. Kevin Newman, 2B
8. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
9. Chris Archer, P