Pirates turn to J.A. Happ in regular-season finale vs. Reds

Left-hander J.A. Happ wore a knit cap in the Pirates clubhouse Sunday morning. Despite the chilly October weather outside, Happ likes this time of year, and he’s waited a long time to pitch again in a meaningful late-season baseball game. This Game 162 certainly would qualify.

Happ, acquired at the trade deadline, will pitch for the Pirates today in a regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. A Pirates win or a Chicago Cubs loss would bring the National League wild-card game back to the North Shore for the third consecutive year.

Happ, 32, went to the postseason twice early in his career (2008-09), both times with the Philadelphia Phillies. Since, he’s pitched for just two better-than-.500 teams — the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays and the 2015 Pirates. After a rough first outing for the Pirates, allowing nine hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings, Happ is 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA in nine starts since.

Asked Sunday when he realized Happ’s success probably wasn’t just a flash in the pan, manager Clint Hurdle said, “Probably his third consecutive established, consistent start with all the same staples and indicators in play. The first time was a nice step back from where he was. The second time: OK, good. The third time: I'm in.

“… The overall consistency in all these starts has been way past interesting. It's been fun to watch."

Lineups

Reds

1. Jason Bourgeois CF
2. Eugenio Suarez SS
3. Joey Votto (L) 1B
4. Brandon Phillips 2B
5. Todd Frazier 3B
6. Jay Bruce (L) RF
7. Adam Duvall LF
8. Brayan Pena (S) C
9. Josh Smith RHP

Pirates

1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
2. Josh Harrison 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Starling Marte LF
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Francisco Cervelli C
8. Jordy Mercer SS
9. J.A. Happ (L) LHP

Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and on Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.