--LHP Damaso Marte, who is coveted by many clubs, is less likely to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline now that RHP Matt Capps, the closer, is expected to be out until Sept. 1 because of shoulder bursitis and tightness. Marte figures to get the bulk of save opportunities with Capps sidelined, though RHP Tyler Yates, LHP John Grabow and RHP Romulo Sanchez could also figure into the closer mix. While it is likely the Pirates will not pick up Marte's $6 million player option at the end of the season, they seem more amenable to allowing him to become a free agent and receiving two compensatory draft picks as a Type A free agent than trading him.

--CF Nate McLouth got Friday off to rest his bruised left knee. It was the second time in four games McLouth was held out, but he is expected to return for Saturday night's game at Milwaukee. OF Jason Michaels started in center and was 0-for-3 with two walks.

--The Pirates have five players with more than 10 home runs through 85 games for only the second time in club history as LF Jason Bay has 16, McLouth has 15, RF Xavier Nady has 12 and 3B Jose Bautista and C Ryan Doumit have 10 each. The Pirates had five players in double figures at this point in the 2006 season with Bautista, Bay, Jeromy Burnitz, Jose Castillo and Craig Wilson all having at least 10.

--Class AAA Indianapolis RHP Bryan Bullington, who was designated for assignment on Thursday, will be outrighted back to Indianapolis if he clears waivers Tuesday. Though the 27-year-old Bullington is 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 starts for Indianapolis and did not pitch during a two-week stint with the Pirates earlier this season, GM Neal Huntington believes he still has value to the organization. Bullington, the first overall selection in 2002 by the Pirates from Ball State, has been one of the biggest draft flops in history.

--LHP Paul Maholm, who has been pitching consistently well in recent weeks, will start Saturday night at Milwaukee. He is 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA in his last six starts and has pitched at least six innings in each of his last 10 outings. Maholm has not lost since May 20.

BY THE NUMBERS
1,386 -- Days between RHP John Van Benschoten's first and second major league victories. He got win No. 2 on Saturday in relief against Tampa Bay. The other came on Sept. 10, 2004 versus Houston before he underwent three shoulder surgeries.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I kind of vultured a win but I'm not apologizing. I've vultured a lot of losses." -- RHP John Van Benschoten, after pitching one relief inning for the win over the Rays.

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