Pirates at Diamondbacks
Pittsburgh acquired veteran starters Erik Bedard and A.J. Burnett in an attempt to shore up its starting rotation, and it has paid off. The Pirates have allowed fewer runs than any team in the National League. Their lineup, though, has managed an MLB-worst 19 runs in 10 games and failed to score in the final eight innings of Monday’s series opener as the Diamondbacks pulled away for a 5-1 win.
Arizona, one of just two National League teams still unbeaten at home, is expected to contend for the NL West title thanks largely an outstanding pitching rotation led by Tuesday’s starter, Ian Kennedy. Joe Saunders, who pitched seven strong innings to get the win Monday, has allowed just one run in 14 innings this year. Three different Pittsburgh pitchers surrendered home runs in the opener, with Aaron Hill, Chris Young and Gerardo Parra all going deep for the Diamondbacks.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Fox Sports (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jeff Karstens (0-1, ERA 3.27) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (2-0, ERA 2.84)
Karstens has pitched reasonably well in his two starts, giving up four runs in 11 innings, but he has suffered from a lack of run support — Pittsburgh totaled four runs in the two games. The lanky right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven career games (three starts) against Arizona, with the win a complete-game shutout in 2008.
Kennedy is proving that his outstanding 2011 season (21-4, 2.88 ERA) was no fluke, winning a pair of quality starts to begin the year. He was particularly sharp in his last outing Apr. 12 at San Diego, allowing one run on five hits in six innings. Kennedy is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two lifetime starts against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Karstens allowed just one run on nine hits in his two starts (13 IP) against the Diamondbacks last year, but the Pirates did not score in either contest.
2. Pittsburgh hitters are a combined 5-for-47 (.106) against Kennedy, with a home run by 2B Neil Walker one of just two extra-base hits.
3. Arizona 1B Lyle Overbay is 6-for-8 with a home run in his career against Karstens.