Game Thread: Brault vs Rangers

The Pittsburgh Pirates, winner of four of their last five games, play host to the Texas Rangers in the first of two games at PNC Park. Right-hander Adrian Sampson (0-1, 3.58) will start for the visitors against the Pirates’ Steven Brault (0-1, 8.31), pressed into starting duty as injuries decimate the Pirates’ rotation.

Sampson will make his fourth start of the year, and eighth appearance overall, after blanking the Pirates for five and two thirds innings last Tuesday in Texas, striking out five while not issuing any walks.

Brault is making his first start after injuries sidelined both Chris Archer and Jameson Taillon. In four relief appearances, Brault has logged only eight and two thirds innings so far this year, with an inflated 8.31 ERA

Bryan Reynolds returns to the Pirates’ lineup, playing left field in place of Melky Cabrera, while Kevin Newman gets the start at short, spelling Cole Tucker at short, who had started each of the fourteen games since his recall.

.

RANGERS

1 R Delino DeShields Jr CF

2 R Elvis Andrus SS

3 L Joey Gallo LF

4 R Hunter Pence RF

5 L Rougned Odor 2B

6 S Asdrubal Cabrera 3B

7 R Logan Forsythe 1B

8 R Isiah Kiner-Falefa C

9 R Adrian Sampson RHP

.

PIRATES

1 L Adam Frazier 2B

2 R Starling Marte CF

3 L Gregory Polanco RF

4 S Josh Bell 1B

5 S Bryan Reynolds LF

6 L Colin Moran 3B

7 R Francisco Cervelli C

8 R Kevin Newman SS

9 L Steven Brault LHP