Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2018 ) Philadelphia 17, Pittsburgh 5
The Philadelphia Phillies have surged into a tie for the lead in the National League East, and if their performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates continues, they’ll have a chance to keep climbing this weekend. The Phillies aim for a sixth straight victory when they visit the Pirates for the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday.
The Phillies have won five in a row and seven of their last eight after rolling to a 17-5 rout in the series opener, pulling into a tie with Atlanta atop the division. After leaning on dominant pitching for its previous four victories, Philadelphia collected 18 hits in Friday’s rout. Pittsburgh has lost four straight as its pitching staff has been beaten up, allowing 48 runs - and 12 homers - during the skid. The Phillies have won all five meetings with the Pirates this season, outscoring them 35-10.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (5-6, 4.05)
Arrieta is winless in his last six turns, recording only one quality start over that stretch. The 32-year-old pitched better last time out, allowing three runs - two earned - over five innings in a no-decision against Washington. Arrieta is 11-6 with a 3.01 ERA in 21 career starts against the Pirates, including a victory on April 19 in which he struck out 10 and allowed one hit over seven scoreless frames.
Taillon was excellent in June, going 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA, but he didn’t have his best stuff in his first outing of July. The 26-year-old allowed four runs - three earned - over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision at San Diego on Sunday. Taillon gave up five runs in 1 2/3 frames at Philadelphia on April 19, falling to 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies C Andrew Knapp is 10-for-24 with three homers during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Pirates 2B Josh Harrison went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Friday to snap a 1-for-16 slump.
3. Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera, who homered and drove in four runs on Friday, is 4-for-7 with a homer versus Taillon.
PREDICTION: Phillies 7, Pirates 4