The Pittsburgh Pirates (32-53) are home at PNC Park for a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves (41-44), finishing up this afternoon at 12:35 PM. The Pirates are sending out Wil Crowe for his 12th start. He has a 6.26 ERA in 50.1 innings, with 46 strikeouts and a 1.61 WHIP. The Braves are countering with left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly, who will be making his 15th start. He has a 4.42 ERA in 73.1 innings, with 64 strikeouts and a 1.28 WHIP.
Here are some injury updates given by the team today:
Pirates injuries:
Brault 3-up sim game yesterday in Bradenton. Possible rehab start Sunday.
Cahill has resumed playing catch. Slower than anticipated.
Moran has not resumed hitting. Decreased soreness.
Polanco has a core injury. Optimistic he’ll be back after All-Star break.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 7, 2021
Also, Roansy Contreras and Oneil Cruz got good news regarding their forearm injuries on their throwing arm. Both considered to be strains that will have them out for at least a few weeks, with Cruz likely back first because it’s easier for position players to return from the injury (plus his was called milder), and Contreras taking it a little slower to build back up. With no setback, we will see him return this season.
Roansy Contreras: forearm muscle strain. Long-term they’re hopeful he resumes playing catch in 2-4 weeks.
Oneil Cruz: also diagnosed a forearm strain. His is a little milder than Contreras. His projection 2-3 weeks.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 7, 2021
Here are the lineups:
Pirates
#Pirates Lineup 07/07/21
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 PStarting Pitcher : Wil Crowe
— Daily MLB Lineups (@DailyMLBLineup) July 7, 2021
Braves
#Braves Lineup 07/07/21
1. Ronald Acuna 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 PStarting Pitcher : Drew Smyly
— Daily MLB Lineups (@DailyMLBLineup) July 7, 2021
Umpire scorecard for yesterday’s game. He wasn’t giving anything on the edges of the zone, then that strike call to Hayes in the ninth, where did that come from!
Umpire: John Bacon
Final: Pirates 2, Braves 1#LetsGoBucs // #ForTheA#PITvsATL // #ATLvsPIT pic.twitter.com/Cwc234pDwx— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) July 7, 2021