Pirates at Marlins
Gregory Polanco's power stroke lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to another series win Thursday in Chicago and they will try to stay hot on the road when they open a three-game set at the Miami Marlins on Friday. Polanco went deep twice in a 6-1 win over the Cubs to give the Pirates a 5-1 road mark.
The blasts were the fourth and fifth of the season for Polanco, who enters Friday tied for second in the National League in that category and first in RBIs with 15 as he seeks a bounce-back campaign following a rocky 2017. "[Polanco's] swing has been so athletic and strong," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "He took some funny swings, but what I love is the short memory he's got going on up there. One at-bat is not leaking into the next." The Marlins have lost five in a row at home after getting swept in three straight by the New York Mets to begin their six-game homestand. Attendance was 6,150 at Marlins Park for the 4-1 loss to the Mets on Wednesday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (1-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Dillon Peters (1-1, 9.35)
Kuhl struck out seven and allowed two runs over five solid innings of a no-decision against Cincinnati on Saturday. The 25-year-old Delaware native has 11 punchouts and three walks in his first 10 2/3 frames this season after struggling with his control through much of 2017, issuing 72 free passes in 157 1/3 innings. Kuhl is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against Miami and lasted just four frames in his one appearance at Marlins Park.
After a stellar season debut in a win over the Cubs, Peters was knocked around for nine runs over 2 2/3 innings of a 20-1 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday. He surrendered nine hits - two home runs - and walked three in the 84-pitch effort, which left him with a 13.22 ERA in four career road starts. The 25-year-old, who has never faced the Pirates, has been much sharper at home - going 2-1 with a 1.14 mark in four career starts in Miami.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins CF Lewis Brinson is hitless in his past 25 at-bats with 12 strikeouts.
2. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli has two homers and seven RBIs over his last three games.
3. Pittsburgh won four of seven meetings last season, including two of three in Miami.