Diamondbacks at Pirates
The Arizona Diamondbacks took two of three against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home last week and aim to start the rematch off on a good note when the teams open a four-game set in the Steel City on Thursday. The Diamondbacks scored 22 runs in winning the first two matchups with the Pirates before falling 5-4 in the finale.
Paul Goldschmidt was 4-for-12 with three walks in that series for Arizona and homered in four of the next six games as he continues his turnaround following a difficult start. The five-time All-Star is 0-for-1 with a walk against Chad Kuhl, who gets the nod in the opener for the Pirates. Kuhl was scheduled to start Wednesday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers but heavy downpours at PNC Park forced a postponement, and Pittsburgh elected to push everyone in its rotation back a day. The Pirates have won four of their last six following a 4-13 stretch.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (7-5, 4.77 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (5-4, 3.76)
Godley won his last two outings, allowing two runs and striking out eight both times in victories over the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets. He spun a quality start at Pittsburgh last season in his only prior start against the Pirates. The 28-year-old is 3-4 with a 6.53 ERA in eight road starts this year.
Kuhl secured his first win in a span of seven starts after limiting the Cincinnati Reds to one earned run over six innings on Friday. He has held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts. The 25-year-old yielded two runs and three hits across five frames in his one prior career start against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks OF Jon Jay was 2-for-5 in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels and is batting .326 in 12 games since being traded from Kansas City.
2. Pirates LF Corey Dickerson was placed on the family medical emergency list Wednesday and IF/OF Adam Frazier was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
3. Pittsburgh SS Jordy Mercer is hitting .313 at home and .211 on the road.