Pirates at Brewers
One couldn't ask for a better major-league debut than the one Nick Kingham enjoyed earlier this week, but the sterling performance went only so far as to guarantee him the next start. That comes on Friday as Kingham aims to snap the Pittsburgh Pirates' four-game losing streak when they open a three-game series versus the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Kingham was the talk of the town after taking a perfect game into the seventh inning and finished with a one-hit, nine-strikeout masterpiece in a 5-0 triumph over St. Louis. Pittsburgh (17-15) certainly could use any semblance of a repeat performance given its recent pitching woes, as the team has been outscored 27-10 during its four-game skid. Milwaukee (19-13) answered a four-game skid of its own - courtesy of a sweep by the Chicago Cubs - by erupting for 16 runs to take out the brooms in a three-game set versus lowly Cincinnati. "Everybody was freaking out after the Chicago series, but that was a perfect storm," third baseman Travis Shaw said. "A 5-4 road trip? We'll take it every time."
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (2-1, 0.82)
With his family in attendance, Kingham retired the first 20 batters he faced before Paul DeJong singled down the left-field line. "I was like, 'You know what, it was a good run, man. It was fun while it lasted,'" the 26-year-old said. Kingham has found his groove in 2018 as he notched a 2-1 mark with a 1.59 ERA in four starts with Triple-A Indianapolis to improve to 43-41 during nine seasons in the minors.
Guerra recorded his fourth straight strong start on Saturday but was saddled with a hard-luck loss despite allowing one run on three hits in six innings of a 3-0 setback at the Cubs. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has permitted a total of three runs (two earned) and 13 hits in 22 innings while registering an 0.95 WHIP and allowing the opposition to bat a slim .176 against him. Starling Marte is 5-for-11 in his career versus Guerra, but the right-hander has flustered Gregory Polanco (0-for-10), David Freese (1-for-9, three strikeouts) and Francisco Cervelli (1-for-8)
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee could also receive a jolt with the likely return of OF Ryan Braun, who exited Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Reds with a troublesome stiff right calf.
2. Pittsburgh LF Corey Dickerson is 9-for-29 with three homers, eight RBIs and five runs scored during his last eight contests.
3. Brewers RF Domingo Santana is 8-for-24 in his last eight games.