Padres at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are proving to be incredibly difficult to beat at home, and it has been the club's ability to win the close ones that has it nursing a slim lead atop the National League Central. The Pirates set their sights on a ninth victory in their last 10 outings Friday when they host the second of four games against the San Diego Padres.
Pittsburgh moved to 15-6 at home following Thursday's 5-4 series-opening triumph over San Diego, notching its second straight one-run victory while improving to 9-3 in such contests in 2018. The Pirates are 6-0 in those same games at PNC Park, posting exactly half of the wins while going 5-1 two-thirds of the way through their nine-game homestand. The Padres are in last place in the NL West, but they entered this series having won three of four and have stabilized themselves after recording a 10-20 combined record over March and April by going 7-8 in May. Eric Hosmer had three RBIs on Thursday and has been a big part of the recent resurgence, driving in six runs over the last three games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (2-3, 3.40 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (2-3, 5.01)
Ross remained winless over his last five outings despite yielding only one run on three hits and two walks while fanning seven over six innings in a no-decision Saturday against St. Louis. The California native, who has struck out 39 in 29 2/3 frames and held the opposition to one run three times over that span, has logged at least six frames in all but one of his eight turns. Corey Dickerson is 5-for-16 with two homers against Ross, who is 1-2 with a 3.29 ERA in five starts versus Pittsburgh.
Nova hasn't been the same since a sterling eight-inning effort on April 26, as he lost for the second time in three outings after getting roughed up for four runs across 5 2/3 frames by San Francisco on Sunday. The 31-year-old Dominican has surrendered a total of 17 runs (14 earned) and 25 hits over his last 12 1/3 innings after opening the campaign with five quality starts in six tries. Nova went 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two turns against San Diego last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. With CF Starling Marte (strained right oblique) expected to miss a third straight game Friday, the Pirates are expected to recall top prospect OF Austin Meadows from Triple-A Indianapolis.
2. Hosmer is hitting .370 on the road as opposed to .216 at home.
3. Pittsburgh is batting .293 as a team during its 8-1 surge.