Worley vs Buck Farmer tonight as Pirates go for third straight win vs struggling Tigers

The Pittsburgh Pirates have got the Detroit Tigers at the perfect time and look to continue to take of advantage of it as the series shifts to Detroit tonight.

The Pirates will avoid seeing Anibal Sanchez, David Price, and 13-game winner Rick Porcello during the series.

After knocking Justin Verlander around in an 11-6 win Monday, arguably Detroit’s 5th best pitcher this season, Pittsburgh saw rookie Robbie Ray last night and will face Buck Farmer tonight, who makes his first career Major League start and was pitching in Double-A.

Farmer, 23, was the Tigers fifth round pick in 2013. Farmer has gone 11-5 with a 2.65 ERA, with 127 strikeouts and 28 walks, in 20 minor league starts this season. He was 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 18 starts for Class-A West Michigan and 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts for Double-A Erie.

His estimated MLB arrival from most publications was 2016.

Here’s a scouting report on Farmer from Tigers Prospectus:

“In college, Farmer was anywhere from 89 to 92 m.p.h. with his fastball, occasionally touching 93 or 94. However, he has seen an uptick this season, sitting mostly in the 92 to 94 range, sometimes touching 95. His fastball command shows promise, and he locates really well to his glove side, often going away from right-handers and inside to lefties.

His curveball can get a bit slurvy, yet it has tight spin and generates swings and misses. It shows the promise of being a major league-average pitch. The change-up has some arm-side run and fade and also may be a major league-average pitch. Even with some effort in the delivery, three pitches and a command profile, Farmer has the tools to become a back-of-the-rotation big- league starter.”

The Pirates 5-3 without Andrew McCutchen, will send Vance Worley to the mound. Worley is 3-0 with an 0.96 ERA in his last four starts.

Pedro Alvarez will DH and make just his 4th start since July 23rd.

Josh Harrison has 15 extra base hits in his last 16 games. Harrison is officially 3rd in the NL in batting average (.318)

Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Tigers was a big night for the Pirates in the standings as Milwaukee, St. Louis and San Francisco all lost.

Pittsburgh trails the Brewers by 1.5 games for the NL Central lead and Pirates are currently in the top wildcard spot.

PIRATES LINEUP

1. Josh Harrison, 3B

2. Gregory Polanco, RF

3. Russell Martin, C

4. Ike Davis, 1B

5. Starling Marte, CF

6. Pedro Alvarez, DH

7. Jordy Mercer, SS

8. Travis Snider, LF

9. Jayson Nix, 2B