Pirates lineup tonight, with Neil Walker — and his .438 lifetime average against Ryan Vogelsong — back in the cleanup slot:

• Harrison 3B
• Polanco RF
• McCutchen CF
• Walker 2B
• Marte LF
• Alvarez 1B
• Kang SS
• Stewart c
• Cole P

Cole is matched up with Stewart for the fifth straight time. Clint Hurdle:

“Every once in a while, you run into a situation — and it’s hard to explain — they seem to think alike. And when it happens, you take advantage of it.” …

Hurdle is a big admirer of the Giants, and of their manager. He and Bruce Bochy grew up in the same corner of Florida, and have a relationship that dates back 40 years. Bochy is from Melbourne, about 15 miles from Hurdle’s Merritt Island roots.

“So we were in the same conference,” Hurdle recalled. “I was a sophomore when he was a senior. The name — he was one of the biggest baseball stars we had. We played against each other throughout high school, and on the same (American) Legion team one summer.” …

It’s been a while since I took a fresh look at All-Star Alchemy — the remarkable relationship between hosting a Midsummer Classic and soon thereafter appearing in a World Series — but the historical trend has continued in recent years. Quite spooky:

• 2007 ASG host: Giants (2010 WS champs).
• 2008 ASG: Yankees (2009 WS champs).
• 2009 ASG: Cardinals (2011 WS champs).
• 2012 ASG: Royals (2014 WS).
• 2013 ASG: Mets (?, but on heels of Nationals).
• 2014 ASG: Twins (?, but currently have AL’s best record).

Andrew McCutchen has said he wants to be a role model and inspiration for Black youngsters, the way Ken Griffey Jr. once was for him. When actions back up the words, that’s special.

His little gesture at the end of Saturday night’s game spoke volumes about Cutch. Making a connection with two young fans, returning the love they’d obviously been showering on him all night, captured this unique athlete’s essence. As I watched it live, I was thinking, “Man, what an awesome scene. I hope it doesn’t get lost.”

So am very glad that it has gone viral. MVP — Most Valuable Player, Person — all the way. …

You can’t have short-term reactions in the long-term world of baseball. So it was with Clint Hurdle’s decision to remove Francisco Liriano from his 2-0 shutout on Friday. Those who see it as the only thing now keeping the Bucs from going for a 10th straight win tonight backed Hurdle into a defensive corner.

The skipper cited Liriano’s upcoming Wednesday afternoon assignment in San Francisco as one reason he pulled him after 96 pitches, since he would have shorter than a full four days of recovery time. That makes perfect sense in view of the lefty’s workload history.

Liriano had thrown 112 pitches in his previous outing. The last time he had thrown 100-plus pitches in back-to-back starts was a year ago, on May 30-June 4. And during his Pirates tenure, he has topped 208 pitches in consecutive starts only once (barely, at 212), in July 2013.

Pitch-count cynics won’t agree, but that track record gave Hurdle a pretty sound reason for the hook. As did this: Until Jered Hughes’ command yips led to the Padres’ comeback, the  Hughes-Tony Wilson-Mark Melancon end-game had been money. … 

The Pirates take a 13-3 record against the NL’s other two divisions into tonight’s game. They still have a long stretch to gear up for their next extended run of division games: Only six of the next 35 games are against NL Central foes. …

We are grateful every day. This day, we just take the time to express it. …

Designating Radhames Liz and his $1 million contract for assignment — rather than optioning out someone like Rob Scahill and his $517,500 minimum — again shows these aren’t  your father’s Bucs. …

Liz was hardly a disaster — although 10 walks in 17 1/3 innings were a concern — but he became a two-time victim of Charlie Morton’s return: Bucs needed his roster spot; and Vance Worley moving to pen gave the Bucs one too many to fill the same long relief role. …

Tonight’s lineup:

• Harrison 3b
• Polanco rf
• McCutchen cf
• Marte lf
• Walker 2b
• Alvarez 1b
• Cervelli c
• Mercer ss
• Morton p

No team in recorded history (baseball’s began in 1900) has had its starting pitchers register 10-plus strikeouts in four straight games. Morton steps up tonight against Miami in the wake of Gerrit Cole, A.J. Burnett, Francisco Liriano. Morton has only one career double-digit Ks game — but it came last June 25, in Florida (against the Rays, though). … 

With the Marlins in town for three, the Pirates can perpetuate a curious trend. The Bucs are 8-2 against teams from the other two NL divisions, and only 12-16 versus the Central. …

If they don’t man-up against division foes, does it ruin chances for a third straight postseason appearance? Not necessarily — the Bucs finished 36-40 against Central teams last season. … 

What?! Josh Bell has been released? Yeah, but not that one: The San Diego version, a 28-year-old third baseman, got his papers from the Padres earlier today. …

Today’s Numb-er:

Couple of guys last week hit their fifth homers since the start of last season.

• Former AL batting champ Joe Mauer got his in 610 at-bats.
• Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner got his in 85 at-bats.

Said the one-time overpowering right-hander who had to reinvent himself to again dominate, “As time goes on, you find different ways to get outs. You come to grips you are not the same guy you once were. … Obviously it was an ego thing. No one wants to believe his stuff will diminish. … I have come to grips with the pitcher I am this year.”

Clint Hurdle isn’t a big believer in the virtues of pitchers having a personal catcher, but obviously it’s no coincidence that since Chris Stewart came off the DL in mid-April, he has been paired with Gerrit Cole five times in his seven starts, including tonight:

• Harrison, 3b
• Walker, 2b
• McCutchen, cf
• Marte, lf
• Kang, ss
• Alvarez, 1b
• Polanco, rf
• Stewart, c
• Cole, p

This will be Cole’s 25th start while Stewart has been on the Bucs’ active roster, and will be his 15th with Stew behind the plate. ERA for the first 14: 2.94. … 

The Mets are last in the Majors in road scoring (63 runs in 19 away games), and with Cole, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano lined up to face them at PNC Park, this feels like an early “tipping point” for the Bucs’ 2015 hopes. … 

That’ll be quite a Superhero duel Saturday, A.J. [Batman] Burnett against Matt [The Dark Knight] Harvey. Who is the real deal? To find out, release Robin on the field, and see who he runs to.  … 

Something tells me, any day now, the Zoltan will be back. … 

A couple of weeks ago, when Jung Ho Kang got a couple of starts while Jordy Mercer recovered from that pitch to his chest, I was asked about his chances to become the everyday shortstop.

I essentially put it at zero.

Both I and Pirates brass that felt he had to be brought along slowly — remember, they projected him to be a regular next season — were wrong. Kang’s durability was the last thing Clint Hurdle wanted to check out, but apparently he’s durable enough to make four straight starts — around one off day — at short. … 

Tonight’s Interleague lineup v the Twins:

• Polanco RF
• Walker 2B
• McCutchen CF
• Marte LF
• Kang SS
• Alvarez 1B
• Harrison 3B
• Cervelli C
• Liriano 1

This could still be only a phase. Hurdle wants to ride the hot bat. But he also has the guy Mercer) who this past offseason was named MLB’s sixth best shortstop by the MLB Network. … 

This is a logjam that may only be broken by an eventual trade. But I still expect Mercer back in the Bucs’ lineup soon. If for no better reason — you get a better return dealing someone out of your lineup than off your bench. … 

The Bucs have lost six of Francisco Liriano’s first seven starts, and the dog-eared no-run-support angle doesn’t work so well when noting the losses have included those by the scores of 9-8 and 8-5 — as well as by 1-0 and 2-1.

The last thing the Pirates need is for Liriano to turn into one of those pitchers who always throw just well enough to lose. … 

The Astros seem to be playing a different game than anybody else. They’re last in the Majors with a .226 team average and their on-base percentage (.301) is way lower than that of the team with the MLB’s worst record [Oakland] — yet Houston has the AL’s best record. Being No. 1 in homers helps. … 

I don’t profess to know how the Marlins’ front office is run, but if its operation is comparable to that of other teams, the most fascinating aspect of Dan Jennings’ move from GM to manager is this: How would you like to find yourself playing for the man who under his previous hat focused on your negatives when negotiating contracts? …

Pirates lineup today:

• Harrison 3B
• Walker 2B
• McCutchen CF
• Marte LF
• Kang SS
• Hart 1B
• Rodriguez RF
• Stewart C
• Cole P

Figured we wouldn’t see Gregory Polanco’s name in the lineup today — and nothing to do with his unfortunate pratfall at the end of Friday’s game. With lefty Jon Lester on the hill for the Cubs, this was gonna be Sean Rodriguez’s day in right field all along. …

Actually, probably a bad day for Polanco to take a seat. He’d love for a quick chance to make amends. …

Corey Hart, getting the start at first base, has two homers off Lester, and Andrew McCutchen has one. Otherwise, the Bucs don’t have much history with the former lifelong American Leaguer. … 

Not yet: Charlie Morton threw a smooth bullpen session, then was told to go make one more rehab start for Indianapolis. Then he’ll be plugged back into the Bucs rotation, most likely on May 25, for the opener of a three-game series with the Marlins in NC Park. … 

Bill Madlock, who won two NL batting titles with the Cubs (1975-76) then two more with the Bucs (1981, 1983) will instead be hitting notes today as he does the “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” honors during the seventh-inning stretch. … 

High- or low-scoring, 11 of the Bucs’ 19 losses have been by one or two runs. That’s gonna hurt when you look back at some point. … 

Rather than have “Kids run the bases,” as elsewhere following day games, the Phillies on Thursday invited those “55 and over to stroll the bases” following the game with the Bucs. So they did, long lines of seniors just shuffling around the basepaths. Funniest ballpark scene in a long time — in an endearing sense. …

As A.J. Burnett went to work last night against the Phillies, the guys in the Philadelphia radio booth were making fun of him. Rather, they were making fun of his 2014 season.

Guy A: “A.J. led the National League in walks, in losses, in runs allowed, in earned run allowed.”

Guy B: “Other than that, he threw the ball very well.”

Guys A & B: “Ha, ha, ha, ha.” … 

Burnett of course dealt with a sports hernia most of his lone season with the Phillies, and is healthy now. But that isn’t the only thing to which he attributed the difference in himself:

“I know what these guys bring out in me, there’s something about the Black & Gold. It’s my last year, so I’m just leaving it all on the line. I’m not worrying about a lot, just enjoying it.” .. 

So A.J. Burnett and one of the guys now analyzing his pitching, Bob Walk, are the only pitchers in Pirates history to start a season with seven straight without allowing more than two runs. When Walk did it in 1988, he gave up 10 earned in his ensuing two starts covering nine innings. … 

Jared Hughes is on pace for 94 appearances, but the Major League record for most games in a season is not only safe, but probably safer than even Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak.

Mike Marshall made 106 appearances for the 1974 Dodgers. Not a misprint. Marshall that season also pitched 208 1/3 innings, all in relief. Also not a misprint. … 

Still, both Tony Watson’s (18) and Hughes’ (19) workloads are enough to unease Clint Hurdle whose “magic number to stay under is 75.” …

Off the top of his head, Hurdle could cite letting only one pitcher go over that number in his  first four seasons with the Bucs, recalling Jose Veras’ 79 games in 2011. But Watson was called on 78 times last season. … 

It’s not all about Starling: His move into the cleanup spot coincides with Andrew McCutchen’s awakening, so his protection of the No. 3 hitter has also been key. In the eight games thus far that they have hit back-to-back, Marte and Cutch are a combined 20-for-62 (.322), with ample power and run production. … 

The Bucs don’t have a Waldo, but they do have a new daily puzzle: “Where’s Jung Ho?”

Tonight, he’s at shortstop. He’s starting a fourth consecutive game for the first time – giving Jordy Mercer a day off while clearing room for Josh Harrison at third.

Kang has warmed to Major League pitching quicker than anticipated, and this is becoming a big dilemma for Clint Hurdle, tugged in different directions by two things he swears by: Loyalty to his players, and a commitment to field the best lineup possible every day.

Harrison and Mercer figure in the first, and of late Kang definitely plays in the other.

It is almost with a pained expression that Hurdle says, “We continue to look for opportunities to get the best lineup out there that we can today. It’s the way I’ve always felt — even when it may not lineup with other people’s feelings.”

The quandary is not going away any day soon. What if Harrison resumes hitting and playing in the style that earned him a five-year contract after Opening Day? That won’t make the problem go away — just make the daily decisions tougher … 

Tonight’s lineup:

• Polanco RF
• Walker 2B
• McCutchen CF
• Marte LF
• Alvarez 3B
• Kang SS
• Harrison 3B
•  Cervelli C
• Burnett P

Mark Melancon has twice done within the span of three weeks something he had never done before: Earn saves in three consecutive games. … 

Only one player has more than Starling Marte’s 22 RBIs since April 17: Bryce Harper, the guy everyone has been going nuts over lately. … 

Sean O’Sullivan is coming off the Phillies’ DL for Tuesday’s start after making 30 and 57 pitches in a couple of sim games, which is interestingly contrary to the Pirates’ insistence for rehabbing pitchers to stretch out to at least 85 pitches before returning to the wars. … 

The mother of all Pirates lineups:

• Harrison 2B
• Kang 3B
• McCutchen CF
• Marte LF
• Hart 1B
• Mercer SS
• Rodriguez RF
• Cervelli C
• Locke P

Clint Hurdle, on Starling Marte being back in there after leaving last night’s game with “extreme dizziness:” “Couldn’t put a finger on (what caused) it. We filled him up with straw and are sending him back out there. We’re off to see the Wizard.” … 

Dugout conversation in the sixth inning Saturday night:

Co-bench coach Dave Jauss: “Who should I get ready to (pinch) hit for (pitcher Rob) Scahill?”

Hurdle: “You need to tell Scahill to be ready to hit after Mercer hits this grand slam.”

So Hurdle was the only one in the park mad about Jordy Mercer’s bases-loaded double high off the center field wall.

“I had to be the only one ticked off that it didn’t go out,” Hurdle said. “Kind of crazy, huh” … 

Let’s get physical? It’s happening around the second base bag, due to Replay Review, which doesn’t allow for “phantom” plays. “Evidence” is big in reviews, and the harder the better.

Hurdle:

“The game’s gotten physical around the bag. You got to stay with tags. In the past, you’d get a slap tag in and get out of town. Now, they hold it while the guy is trying to hold onto the base. You gotta slide better. You’ve got to stick your nose in there and stay with the play — on both sides of it.”…

The Pirates have three .300 hitters as of Saturday afternoon. One is in Indianapolis (Tony Sanchez), another is a jack-of-all-positions reserve guy (Sean Rodriguez) — then there’s Jung Ho Kang.

• Polanco RF
• Walker 2B
• McCutchen CF
• Marte LF
• Alvarez 1B
• Kang 3B
• Cervelli C
• Mercer SS
• Worley P