Game Thread: The Penultimate Game Until All-Star Break

Dario Agrazal will make his third career start- his first at PNC Park- Saturday afternoon as the Pirates try to bounce back from an extra-inning heart breaker against the Brewers.

Agrazal (1-0, 2.70) is making the spot start for Trevor Williams, who was placed on the paternity list late Friday night. Agrazal’s last major league start came on June 26, holding the Houston Astros to one run in six innings.

The Brewers will start Adrian Houser (2-2, 3.26). Houser has primarily come out of the bullpen this year, but he will be making his fourth start of the season. As a starter this year, he has allowed 11 runs in 11 innings. He threw 75 pitches in his last start on July 1 and has maxed out at 78 pitches this season.

In other roster moves, the Pirates placed LHP Steven Brault on the 10 day IL with a left shoulder strain and optioned RHP Dovydas Neverauskas to AAA. Righty pitchers Montana DuRapau and Luis Escobar will take their place. Escobar, who currently ranks as the team’s number seven prospect on MLB Pipeline, is making his first trip to the big leagues.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m..

Lineups

Brewers

C Yasmani Grandal

RF Christian Yelich

3B Mike Moustakas

CF Lorenzo Cain

1B Eric Thames

2B Keston Hiura

LF Ben Gamel

P Adrian Houser

SS Orlando Arcia

Pirates

2B Adam Frazier

RF Bryan Reynolds

CF Starling Marte

1B Josh Bell

3B Colin Moran

LF Corey Dickerson

SS Kevin Newman

C Elias Diaz

P Dario Agrazal