Giants at Pirates
Andrew McCutchen had been the longtime face of the Pittsburgh Pirates before the beloved superstar was traded to the San Francisco Giants in January. A backlash from Pittsburgh fans ensued, but the 2013 National League MVP is set to return with his new team on Friday when the Giants (19-19) open a three-game series versus the Pirates (21-16) at PNC Park.
"I'll be there, be in the moment and let the emotions be what they are. I try to live in the moment of everything. It's newfound to me," McCutchen told the San Francisco Chronicle of the reaction he expects to receive from the fans on Friday. The 31-year-old, who was Pittsburgh's first-round pick in the 2005 draft, answered a brutal .198 average over his first 25 games to bat .394 over his past 11 before sitting out Thursday's 6-3 series finale versus Philadelphia. While the Giants had won 11 of 14 before being swept in a four-game series by the Phillies, the Pirates have won three in a row heading into the opener of a nine-game homestand. Colin Moran belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run ninth inning in Wednesday's 6-5 victory at the Chicago White Sox, improving to 4-for-12 with five RBIs and four runs scored in his last three contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (1-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.42)
Suarez emerged victorious in his third career start on Sunday after allowing one run (none earned) on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-3 triumph at Atlanta. The 25-year-old has permitted two earned runs in two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on May 1 to replace the injured Johnny Cueto. Suarez kept the ball in the park after being taken deep three times in his previous two outings and tossed a season-high 93 pitches versus the Braves.
Taillon has answered two brutal starts in which he yielded 12 runs on 14 hits and three homers with a pair of strong performances on the road. The 26-year-old lost his third straight start despite allowing three runs in six frames before receiving a no-decision on Saturday after permitting one run in five innings at Milwaukee. Taillon aims to end a five-start winless skid versus San Francisco, against which he owns an 0-1 career mark in two starts and was shelled for a career-high 10 runs in three innings on July 25.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh 2B Josh Harrison is scheduled to meet with doctors on Friday to re-examine his fractured left hand.
2. San Francisco 3B Pablo Sandoval is 4-for-9 with three runs scored in his last three games.
3. Pirates 1B Josh Bell is 4-for-10 with five runs scored in his last three contests.