Pittsburgh @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2018 ) San Francisco 5, Pittsburgh 0

The Pittsburgh Pirates have sprinted back within earshot in the National League Central after winning 19 of their last 27 contests. The Pirates look to draw closer to the leaders on Thursday when they continue their nine-game road trip with the opener a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

Adam Frazier collected three hits in Pittsburgh's 4-3 victory over Colorado on Wednesday to improve to 10-for-21 with six extra-base hits (five doubles, homer), four RBIs and three runs scored in August. Gregory Polanco has been ice-cold to start the month, although he has followed a 1-for-17 performance by driving in a run in back-to-back outings. Offense has been in short supply for San Francisco, which has answered a four-game winning streak by scoring 11 runs en route to dropping four of its last five. Andrew McCutchen, who had three doubles among his four hits against his former team on May 11-13, went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts as the Giants were swept in an abbreviated two-game series versus Houston.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.49 ERA) vs. Giants LH Andrew Suarez (4-7, 4.60)

Nova allowed four runs and three walks in back-to-back outings, with the latter resulting in a no-decision versus St. Louis on Saturday. The 31-year-old Dominican is sporting a 2-1 mark with a 5.81 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over his last six trips to the mound. Nova has been flustered by Brandon Crawford, who is 5-for-11 with three extra-base hits (two doubles, triple) versus the hurler.

Suarez saw his streak of 12 consecutive starts without allowing over four earned runs come to a halt on Saturday after permitting a career-high eight on 10 hits in a 9-3 setback versus Arizona. The 25-year-old was blitzed for five runs in four innings of an 11-2 setback at Pittsburgh on May 11. Starling Marte and Jose Osuna belted two-run shots in that contest off Suarez, who will make his 20th career start on Thursday.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco 3B Evan Longoria has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games.

2. Pittsburgh is just 10-19 against NL West representatives this season.

3. Marte went 6-for-13 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored in the previous series versus the Giants.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Pirates 2