--LHP Donnie Veal's major league debut was quite memorable Tuesday. He came on to start the fifth inning with the Pirates trailing 8-1 and promptly gave up a leadoff home run to Cardinals C Yadier Molina. Veal then struck out Joe Thurston and Kyle Lohse, walked Skip Schumaker, Colby Rasmus and Albert Pujols in succession to load the bases then escaped the jam by striking out Chris Duncan.

--C Jason Jaramillo, INF Ramon Vazquez and OF Craig Monroe are all likely to get starts either Wednesday or Thursday before the season-opening series in St. Louis ends, as manager John Russell wants to get as many bench players involved as possible as quickly as he can. INF/OF Eric Hinske started in right field in Tuesday night's 9-3 loss to the Cardinals, going 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.

--1B Adam LaRoche went 2-for-5 with a key RBI single in the game-winning four-run rally in the ninth in Monday's opener, an encouraging development since he is a career .185 hitter in April during his six major league seasons. LaRoche went 0-for-4 on Tuesday night.

--LHP Zach Duke, who starts Wednesday night against the Cardinals, was sporting a new closely cropped haircut Tuesday. Duke said he is trying to change his luck after going 5-14 last season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Phil Dumatrait (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He has been slow to recover.

ROTATION:

1. LHP Paul Maholm

2. RHP Ian Snell

3. LHP Zach Duke

4. RHP Ross Ohlendorf

5. RHP Jeff Karstens

BULLPEN:

RHP Matt Capps (closer)

LHP John Grabow

RHP Tyler Yates

LHP Sean Burnett

RHP Craig Hansen

RHP Jesse Chavez

LHP Donnie Veal

LINEUP:

1. LF Nyjer Morgan

2. 2B Freddy Sanchez

3. CF Nate McLouth

4. C Ryan Doumit

5. 1B Adam LaRoche

6. RF Brandon Moss

7. 3B Andy LaRoche

8. SS Jack Wilson

RESERVES:

C Jason Jaramillo

INF Ramon Vasquez

INF Luis Cruz

INF/OF Eric Hinske

OF Craig Monroe