Pirates pregame: Burnett vs. Simon

RHP A.J. Burnett (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)

Game: Pirates (43-33) at Tigers (39-37)

Time: 7:08 p.m.

Site: Comerica Park

TV, radio: ROOT Sports, KDKA-FM 93.7

Weather: 70 and partly cloudy

Pirates

1. Josh Harrison 3B

2. Neil Walker 2B

3. Andrew McCutchen CF

4. Starling Marte LF

5. Pedro Alvarez DH

6. Francisco Cervelli C

7. Gregory Polanc RF

8. Jordy Mercer SS

9. Sean Rodriguez 1B

A.J. Burnett RHP

Tigers

1. Rajai Davis CF

2. Ian Kinsler 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera 1B

4. Victor Martinez DH

5. Yoenis Cespedes LF

6. J.D. Martinez RF

7. Nick Castellanos 3B

8. James McCann C

9. Jose Iglesias SS

Alfredo Simon RHP

• Starling Marte’s bunt singe last night, hit hard and right down the line, nearly got past Miguel Cabrera behind first base. "A little harder and he might have had a double," Clint Hurdle said. The Pirates think they can expose the Tigers corner infielders with bunts this series, and with Justin Verlander and his balky back on the mound, it made sense to have Marte lay one down. "Marte went in with a different angle we hadn't used before," Hurdle said with a grin. "Maybe that's something we can factor in and use a little more in the future. Beat 'em down the line."

• Pirates ended June 43-33 and are eight games back of the St. Louis Cardinals. "We've done some very good things this year,“ Hurdle said. ”We have some areas that need work and improvement. We don't turn our head on the mistakes that are made and challenges that come our way. We're working every day to find a better rhythm and path. These guys are connected at the hip. They play hard for one another. They respect one another. They back one another. They all know what's at stake."

• Another good outing Tuesday by left-hander Antonio Bastardo, who has made sevens straight scoreless appearances: "We're past gaining confidence,“ Hurdle said. ”This guy is getting things done." ... "This guy is hard to hit. There's a lot of swing and miss. There's a lot of fly ball. It's there. It's playing. His command, his strike throwing has ramped up dramatically from what we saw in April and early May. There's no doubt. He's the guy we thought we were getting in the trade."

• Corey Hart went 1 for 4 with an RBI Tuesday in his first rehab start at Class AAA Indianapolis. He even scored from first on a play. "[Manager Dean Treanor] said they almost had a conversation rounding third,“ Hurdle joked. ”Corey felt he was good at third, and Dean said wait a minute, I think we can go one more. He went ahead and waved him, and he was able to score."