Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 3

The Philadelphia Phillies have exceeded expectations midway into the season, but manager Gabe Kapler isn't going to let his upstart team rest on its laurels. Residing 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season, the Phillies (47-37) bid to win their fifth straight contest on Friday when they open a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-46).

"I think it's a nice milestone and one that we can celebrate. We'll use it as fuel and motivation,” Kapler said of Philadelphia's lofty standing after finishing the 2017 campaign with a 66-96 mark. The Phillies will be put to the test on Friday as they head west across the Keystone State to begin an 11-game, four-city trek in Pittsburgh, against which it swept a four-game series on April 19-22. The Pirates are licking their wounds to open their 11-game homestand after being pummeled in their final three contests of a six-game West Coast trip, surrendering 10 homers and 41 hits while getting outscored 31-8 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The game shows you where you need to improve," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "It gives you immediate feedback. We got a lot of immediate feedback."

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (5-7, 4.66 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (6-6, 4.22)

Pivetta snapped a seven-game winless skid in unexpected fashion Sunday, as he overcame one walk to pitch a scoreless 13th inning in a 4-3 victory over Washington. The 25-year-old exacted a measure of revenge after getting shellacked for seven runs on as many hits -- including three homers -- in a 17-7 romp by the Nationals last Friday. Pivetta aims to turn in his second strong outing against Pittsburgh, as he permitted two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision on April 22.

Williams suffered his second straight loss and fell to 1-4 in his last eight outings on Saturday after yielding four runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-3 setback to his hometown Padres. The 26-year-old San Diego native received the same fate as Pivetta when the two opposed each other on April 22, despite Williams allowing two runs on one hit -- albeit with five walks. Williams owns an 0-1 mark with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts versus the Phillies, although the current roster is batting 3-for-27 with seven strikeouts against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh C Elias Diaz has recorded seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two homers) while batting safely in eight of his last nine games.

2. Phillies RF Nick Williams belted a two-run homer in Wednesday's 4-1 triumph over Baltimore to improve to 3-for-9 with four runs scored in his last three games.

3. Pirates 2B Josh Harrison is 1-for-16 in his last five games.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Phillies 2