Arizona @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 2, Arizona 10

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping a return home will halt a recent slide and help them maintain their two-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. The Pirates went 1-5 on their six-game road trip, which included a pair of walk-off losses in extra innings to St. Louis. Pittsburgh has been a far different team at home, with five straight wins and the second-best record in the majors at 41-20 entering Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Walk-off wins have been a specialty of the Diamondbacks, who recorded three in a row in a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and have posted a major league-best 26 victories in their final at-bat. Arizona has won six of eight overall but still lost ground to the surging Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Diamondbacks, who are kicking off a 10-game road trip, own a 27-15 record in one-run games - also the best in the baseball.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Brandon McCarthy (2-6, 4.73 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.95)

McCarthy has lost both starts since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list due to recurring shoulder issues. He went seven innings against the Mets in his last turn and gave up two runs for the second straight outing, but Arizona has scored only one run in the two games. McCarthy was roughed up by the Pirates for six runs (four earned) and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings on April 9.

Cole won his first four career starts but has only one victory in seven subsequent outings despite allowing more than three runs only once. That occurred in his last turn versus Miami, when he permitted four runs over five innings but did not factor in the decision. The top overall pick in the 2011 draft has not given up more than six hits in six straight starts but has allowed a homer in five of them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has eight two-hit performances in his last 12 games.

2. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt has hit three walk-off homers this season, a franchise record.

3. Pittsburgh can match its longest winning streak of the season, set from May 19-30.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 3