Worth noting

By Tom Singer and Steven Petrella

July 29, 2013

• Alex Presley, recalled on Monday to take the roster spot of catcher Michael McKenry, who was placed on the disabled list, could have a busy tenure with the Bucs. Hurdle made a point of noting that the team will face nine right-handers during its 11-game homestand.

• Double-A Altoona outfielder Alex Dickerson has been on fire for two months, and he now has a second Eastern League Player of the Week Award in three weeks to show for it. Through Sunday, Dickerson went 12-for-30 with four doubles and two homers, sustaining a spree that has seen him hit .360 and 11 home runs since the beginning of June. Dickerson was the Pirates' third-round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

• The current set is the second five-game series in PNC Park history, taking place on the 12th anniversary of the first one: July 26-29, 2001, against the Astros.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. Steven Petrella is an associate reporter for MLB.com.