DETROIT -- Adam Frazier's avenue to playing every day was blocked when the Pirates acquired Corey Dickerson. However, that won't prevent him from being in the lineup on opening day.
Frazier will lead off and act as the Pirates' designated hitter to open the season against the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Clint Hurdle revealed to reporters following the club's 5-5 tie against the Phillies to end spring training Tuesday.
Josh Harrison will bat behind Frazier, followed by Gregory Polanco, Josh Bell, Dickerson, Starling Marte, Francisco Cervelli, Colin Moran and Jordy Mercer. Hurdle's decision to use Marte in the six-hole is somewhat of a surprise considering the impact he can have near the top of an order, but he's struggled in his career against Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, going 1 for 10.
On the other hand, Harrison has four hits in 12 at-bats against the right-hander. The lineup will change drastically once the Pirates return to National League play, with Harrison likely to lead off, followed by Marte and Polanco. But the pairing of Bell and Dickerson could last throughout the season.
Bell will require protection in the order, which Dickerson, who hit 27 home runs last season, can provide. Plus, Dickerson is a more proven hitter than Moran, who has only 16 games of major-league experience. Cervelli will bat higher in the order than last season to separate the left-handed hitters, but that could change depending on the opponent, particularly how many left-handed relief pitchers are in the bullpen.
Frazier batted .353/.421/.559 with one home run and nine RBIs, and didn't play Tuesday with David Freese acting as the designated hitter. Frazier is batting leadoff on opening day for a second consecutive season after he played left field against the Red Sox at Fenway Park last April.
With Freese on the bench Thursday, Moran is one of only two new players in the Pirates' opening day lineup, joining Dickerson. Moran, acquired from the Astros in the Gerrit Cole trade, went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI against the Phillies, and he finished the spring with a .362/.383/.448 slash line in 58 at-bats.
• Jameson Taillon started for the Pirates against the Phillies, throwing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and allowing only two hits. It was his final tune-up for his home-opener assignment next Monday. Felipe Rivero and Chad Kuhl also pitched in relief.
Rivero pitched a scoreless fourth inning, but Kuhl, who will start against the Tigers on Sunday, struggled, allowing four earned runs on four hits in 2/3 inning. He finished the spring with a 10.06 ERA and opponents batted .342 against him in 17 innings.
• Harrison went 2 for 3 and Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning, driving in Marte and Polanco. Bell hit safely in each of his last six spring training games and batted .294 (15 for 51) with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 19 games.
Cervelli went 1 for 2 with a double and collected 15 hits in his final 30 at-bats. He finished the spring with a .405 (15-for-37) average and four homers with 12 RBI in 15 games.
• The Pirates finished the spring with a Grapefruit League-leading 47 home runs, matching the club record from 2006.
