Padres at Pirates
David Freese and Starling Marte have begun to heat up during their respective 14-game stretches, although their hot play at the plate hasn't extended to the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freese and Marte look to ignite a fire under the Pirates on Friday when the team opens a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres.
Freese and Marte each registered three-hit performances in Thursday's 6-0 victory over cellar-dwelling Cincinnati, giving the former hits in 12 of his last 14 games while the latter has hit safely in 10 of 14 since returning from an 80-game suspension. The 34-year-old Freese recorded four hits in last week's series against San Diego, although the Padres got the last laugh by winning two of the three contests. Pittsburgh, which has won just three of its last 11 games, looks to cut into its 5 1/2-game deficit behind National League Central-leading Chicago when it begins its series versus San Diego. Jose Pirela has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 encounters, including a 5-for-12 effort in last week's series versus Pittsburgh and a two-run homer in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Minnesota.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Travis Wood (2-3, 6.42 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (10-8, 3.75)
Wood put his best foot forward in his first game after being acquired from Kansas City, allowing two runs while striking out seven in six innings in Friday's 3-2 triumph over Pittsburgh. The win was the 30-year-old's first since June 10, ironically in a 12-6 victory over San Diego. "I'm taking this opportunity like it's a fresh start," Wood said. "I've come here and I'm not thinking about anything that happened this season. Just come in, put in the work and help the ball club out."
Nova sustained his second straight loss on Saturday after yielding four runs on eight hits in five innings of a 4-2 loss to San Diego. The 30-year-old Dominican recorded a 6.28 ERA in five July starts and has surrendered 11 homers in his last eight. Nova has pitched significantly better at PNC Park, however, notching a 7-2 mark and a 2.83 ERA at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen ignited his current four-game hitting streak with three homers in Sunday's 7-1 rout of San Diego.
2. Padres 1B Wil Myers is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts in his last three games and just 2-for-24 in his last seven.
3. Pirates 1B Josh Bell has an RBI in each contest of his four-game hitting streak.