Pittsburgh Pirates (52-50, third in the NL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-50, third in the NL West)
Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 59 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (7-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 80 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Diamondbacks -172, Pirates +144; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday to start a three-game series.
Arizona has a 53-50 record overall and a 26-24 record in home games. The Diamondbacks have the ninth-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .410.
Pittsburgh has a 26-24 record on the road and a 52-50 record overall. The Pirates have a 38-4 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.
Friday’s game is the first time these teams square off this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Walker leads the Diamondbacks with 43 extra base hits (20 doubles and 23 home runs). Ketel Marte is 15-for-36 with four home runs and 12 RBI over the past 10 games.
Connor Joe has 18 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 30 RBI for the Pirates. Oneil Cruz is 12-for-39 with five doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Diamondbacks: 7-3, .246 batting average, 3.33 ERA, outscored opponents by 17 runs
Pirates: 8-2, .256 batting average, 2.10 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Blake Walston: 15-Day IL (elbow), Merrill Kelly: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kyle Nelson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Eduardo Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drey Jameson: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Pirates: Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (arm), Daulton Jefferies: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jared Jones: 15-Day IL (lat), Hunter Stratton: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Borucki: 60-Day IL (tricep), Dauri Moreta: 60-Day IL (elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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