Brewers @ Pirates Pre-Game Buzz: Byrd to make Pirates debut, bat cleanup

MIL Tom Gorzelanny (3-5, 3.60 ERA) vs PIT Charlie Morton (5-3, 3.42 ERA)

Marlon Byrd (.285 – 21 HR – 71 RBI) makes his Pirates debut tonight vs the Milwaukee Brewers as the Pirates look to snap a three game losing streak. Byrd will bat cleanup and is hitting .315 with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs from the No. 4 spot this season.

Byrd is expected to slide into the No. 5 spot against righties, but lefty Tom Gorzelanny takes the mound tonight for the Brewers as it’s Clint Hurdle’s norm to put Pedro Alvarez at the No. 5 spot when facing lefties. Gorzelanny is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in nine career games against the Pirates.

Byrd has hit extremely well against lefties this year, batting .345 with an .980 OPS on the season and is hitting over .450 against left-handers since June 30th.

Catcher John Buck has also joined the team and the Pirates have re-assigned Tony Sanchez to the minors. Buck won’t be in the lineup tonight but figures to start tomorrow. Russell Martin is hitting .111 in his last 10 games.

Neil Walker coming off a big game with a three run homer last night, sits tonight against the lefty Gorzelanny. Josh Harrison gets the start at second base and will leadoff. Harrison is batting .292 (14-48) since the all-star break and is 0-5 from the leadoff spot this season.