Braves vs. Pirates - 7/7/2021

Atlanta Braves (41-44) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (32-53), Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 12:35 p.m. EST

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: KDKA-AM and FM

Braves SB Nation Site: Talking Chop

Starting Pitchers

Braves: Drew Smyly (6-3, 4.42 ERA, 64 K)

Pirates: Wil Crowe (1-5, 6.26 ERA, 46 K)

Probable Starting Lineups (subject to last-minute change)

Projected Lineups

Braves

1. Ronald Acuna Jr. (RF)
2. Freddie Freeman (1B)
3. Ozzie Albies (2B)
4. Austin Riley (3B)
5. Orlando Arcia (LF)
6. Dansby Swanson (SS)
7. Guillermo Heredia (CF)
8. Jonathan Lucroy (C)
9. Drew Smyly (P)

Pirates

1. Adam Frazier (2B)
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B)
3. Bryan Reynolds (CF)
4. Jacob Stallings (C)
5. John Nogowski (1B)
6. Wilmer Difo (RF)
7. Kevin Newman (SS)
8. Jared Oliva (LF)
9. Wil Crowe (P)

Before anyone says anything about sweeps or win streaks, Dr. Evil has some advice:

Now that’s out of the way, let’s enjoy the last home game before the Bucs send Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds to Denver to be All-Stars. I will note here that the Pirates have more players on the All-Star team than the Mets. I may or may not have gleefully pointed this out to my Brother the Mets Fan.

Wil Crowe is on the mound for the Bucs today. He was the subject of an interesting Washington Post article in which he credits Indy pitching coach Joel Hanrahan for telling him to slow down his windup, as well as the Bucs emphasizing “hill connection,” so go read. He’ll face off against the Braves’ Drew Smyly.

Ben “The New Big Ben in Pittsburgh” Gamel has the day off, but the lineup is little changed from last night. The game thread is open, I’ll have things going on Twitter (@BucsDugout), and, as always, LET’S GO BUCS!!