Pirates at Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks may want to exercise caution Wednesday when facing the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and first baseman Josh Bell in the rubber match of a three-game series. Bell blasted two home runs and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory as the Pirates snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Diamondbacks.
Bell matched his home run total from all of last year with 12 during Tuesday’s power display and is batting .421 with seven doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs during his hitting streak. The Pirates also received a boost in Tuesday's win from Phoenix native Cole Tucker (two-run homer) and Starling Marte, who extended his hitting streak to nine games with two doubles among his three hits. Arizona was held to four hits and fell to 2-4 on its 10-game homestand. The Diamondbacks have scored three runs or fewer in eight of their first 13 games this month, but David Peralta is 13-for-31 during his seven-game hitting streak.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chris Archer (1-2, 4.33 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (5-1, 3.16)
Archer is set to return after landing on the injured list with inflammation in the thumb on his throwing hand on April 27. The 30-year-old native of North Carolina struggled in three starts before the injury, going 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA over 16 innings. Adam Jones is 14-for-49 with two home runs against Archer, who is facing Arizona for the first time since 2016 and owns a 1-0 record and 4.70 ERA in two career starts versus the Diamondbacks.
Greinke posted his eighth straight quality start with another stellar outing last Friday, holding Atlanta to one run and five hits over seven innings. The five-time All-Star is 5-0 with a 2.19 ERA and a total of six walks over his last eight starts covering 53 1/3 innings. Marte has a pair of hits in 15 at-bats against Greinke, who owns a 9-4 record and 4.17 ERA in 14 career starts versus Pittsburgh – including 4-1 with a 2.20 mark over his last five outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh OF Melky Cabrera is 28-for-63 in 15 career games at Chase Field.
2. Arizona INF Wilmer Flores is 19-for-53 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 17 games.
3. Pirates OF Lonnie Chisenhall (strained calf) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.