Diamondbacks at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates owned the best record in the National League as recently as last weekend, but their inability to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks at home of late has taken that title from them. The Diamondbacks look to extend their eight-game winning streak in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, when they visit the Pirates for the third contest of their four-game series.
Pittsburgh won 12 of its first 18 games before missing an opportunity to sweep a third opponent this season with Sunday's loss to San Francisco. A late meltdown in Monday's series opener against Arizona led to a 12-4 setback, and its lackluster offense - ranked 28th in the majors in runs scored - was held to fewer than two runs for the sixth time this year in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat. Gregory Polanco has done his part to spark the Pirates' offense, however, registering two hits in each of his first two games of the season following shoulder surgery. Eduardo Escobar posted his second straight three-hit performance on Tuesday for the Diamondbacks, who haven't lost at PNC Park since May 12, 2017.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (1-2, 4.37 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (2-0, 0.53)
Kelly endured the worst of his four major-league starts Friday against the Cubs in Chicago, taking the loss after permitting three runs on six hits and seven walks in only 3 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old, who is getting his first taste of the majors after spending the previous four seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization, has allowed seven runs over his last 8 2/3 frames after opening with consecutive quality starts. Left-handed hitters are batting .344 against Kelly, who will face Pittsburgh for the first time.
Lyles has been brilliant over his first three starts with the Pirates after signing a one-year deal worth $2.05 million in the offseason, giving up only one run in 17 innings. The former first-round draft pick permitted only four hits - the most he's allowed so far - in six scoreless frames to record the win against San Francisco on Friday. David Peralta (2-for-12, four walks) and Adam Jones (2-for-4) have enjoyed varying levels of success against Lyles, who is 2-6 with a 7.23 ERA in 19 career appearances (nine starts) versus Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds, who has registered at least one hit in each of his first four major-league games, left Tuesday's contest for precautionary reasons due to discomfort in his left quadriceps.
2. Jones has notched at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games and is tied with SS Ketel Marte for the team lead with 16 RBIs.
3. Pittsburgh placed RHP Nick Burdi (biceps/elbow) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, one day after he left the field in tears with an arm injury.