Diamondbacks at Pirates
Outfielder Jon Jay has proved to be a valuable pickup and looks to continue his latest hot streak when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night for the second of a four-game set. Jay, who was acquired from Kansas City on June 6, had a pair of hits along with two RBIs in Thursday’s 9-3 victory while improving to 17-for-38 in his last nine games after going hitless in his first 12 at-bats with Arizona.
Five-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt also knocked in a run for the Diamondbacks on Thursday and has been on a tear this month with 29 hits in 64 at-bats over the last 16 games with eight homers and 20 RBIs in that stretch. Left-hander Patrick Corbin goes after his seventh win for National League West-leading Arizona and will face righty Ivan Nova, who can build a three-game winning streak for the first time in 2018. Pittsburgh has dropped back-to-back contests after running off four victories in five games to reach the .500 mark and is 1-5 in its last six against the Diamondbacks - dating back to last season. Rookie outfielder Austin Meadows had three hits in Thursday’s loss and is 6-for-14 over his last four contests for the Pirates to raise his batting average to .340.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (6-3, 3.48 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.42)
Corbin has struggled in his last two starts, allowing 10 runs on 15 hits and five walks across 11 1/3 innings with a total of 12 strikeouts. The 28-year-old New Yorker surrendered three or fewer runs in his first eight starts of 2018 and accomplished that feat just three times in his last seven outings, losing three of his past five decisions. Gregory Polanco is 4-for-8 with a homer versus Corbin, who is 1-2 with a 5.90 ERA in five career games against the Pirates.
Nova was victorious in his last two appearances, permitting one run in each while allowing nine hits and five walks combined with 11 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old Dominican had lost his previous four decisions over a five-start stretch, yielding 20 earned runs across 23 2/3 innings combined. Goldschmidt is 4-for-9 with two homers and a double against Nova, who is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three career starts versus Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte recorded his 800th hit along with the 300th RBI of his career Thursday and is batting .339 all time against Arizona.
2. Arizona optioned RHP Matt Koch to Triple-A Reno on Thursday and recalled RHP Jake Barrett.
3. Pirates 3B Colin Moran has hit safely in eight consecutive games with a pair of homers and four RBIs in that stretch.