Pirates at Phillies
The Pittsburgh Pirates are cold at the plate right now, and it's showing in the standings. The Pirates will try to string some hits together and keep their chances at a series split alive when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in the third of a four-game series.
Pittsburgh totaled one run in the first two games of the series and scored two or fewer runs in six of the last eight contests. Shortstop Jordy Mercer drove in the lone run in Friday's 2-1 loss out of the No. 8 spot in the order while batters one thru five - Adam Frazier, Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte, Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson - combined to go 3-for-19 after going 0-for-17 in Thursday's 7-0 setback. The Phillies improved to 7-1 at home with Friday's triumph and are winners of nine of the last 11 games and watched their pitching staff allow three or fewer runs in seven of those 11 contests. The Pirates could have a hard time boosting their team batting average against Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola, who opposes lefty Steven Brault.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Philadelphia Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Steven Brault (2-1, 4.74 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (1-1, 2.22)
Brault suffered his first loss last time out, yielding five runs on five hits and a pair of walks in six innings. The California native won his first two appearances - tossing three scoreless innings at Detroit and limiting Cincinnati to one run allowed in five frames on April 5. Brault missed seeing the Phillies last season and his only career game against them came in 2016, when he allowed five runs - three earned - on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Nola has been strong in the first month and allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his four turns. The 24-year-old absorbed his first loss last time out despite yielding just two runs and four hits over six innings. Nola is making his fourth career start against the Pirates and went 1-2 with a 3.50 ERA with 18 strikeouts in as many innings during the first three chances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera recorded the game-winning triple on Friday and hit safely in his last five games.
2. Pirates RHP George Kontos absorbed the loss on Friday and owns a 5.19 ERA in nine appearances.
3. Dickerson is hitless in three straight contests on the heels of an 11-game winning streak.