Giants at Pirates
A power surge has the Pittsburgh Pirates playing well and contending in the National League Central with nearly a quarter of the season over. The hot-hitting Pirates aim for their fifth straight victory when they host the San Francisco Giants for the second of a three-game series Saturday.
Pittsburgh has hit 17 home runs in nine games this month, including four during an 11-2 rout in Friday’s series opener. The Pirates will need right-hander Chad Kuhl to give them a deep outing after the bullpen worked overtime Friday, when starter Jameson Taillon left after three innings because of a finger laceration. The Giants have lost five straight and allowed 11 runs in three of those contests. San Francisco has totaled just 10 runs during the five-game skid.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 6.62 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (4-2, 4.12)
Samardzija is known for pitching deep into games, but he hasn’t worked into the sixth in four starts this season. The 33-year-old has struggled with his command, walking at least three in each outing, and he gave up two home runs in a loss at Philadelphia last time out. Samardzija is 6-4 with a 2.80 ERA in 25 games (14 starts) against the Pirates, including two wins last year.
Kuhl has recorded quality starts in three of his last four outings, and he’s coming off his best showing of the season. The 25-year-old allowed only one hit and struck out eight over seven scoreless frames to win at Milwaukee on Sunday, bouncing back after surrendering four home runs in his previous start at Washington. Kuhl made his first start against the Giants last season and allowed one run and two hits over six innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Pirates are 18-0 when leading after six innings.
2. Giants RF Andrew McCutchen is 13-for-34 during a 10-game hitting streak after going 1-for-5 with a double in his return to Pittsburgh.
3. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is 11-for-27 with three homers during a six-game hitting streak.