INDIANAPOLIS vs PITTSBURGH
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 1.5
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH , INDIANAPOLIS

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the INDIANAPOLIS, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts have been moving in opposite directions lately yet will have plenty in common Sunday when they meet at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.

The 11-3 Steelers have clinched a spot in the playoffs, due to their 11-0 start, but have lost three in a row and need one more victory to secure the AFC North title.

The 10-4 Colts have won three consecutive and seven of their past nine, with their own spot in the playoffs pending a victory, coupled with a loss by Miami or Baltimore this weekend.

Pittsburgh was the last undefeated team by several weeks, but the three-game losing streak, all by fewer than 20 points, has brought with it a good deal of unrest.

Fingers have been pointing toward the offense, and specifically quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger has heard the questions and the criticisms. He doesn’t or can’t throw downfield anymore; he gets rid of the ball too quickly; he doesn’t see open receivers; at 38 he’s nearing the end. TO that, he offered a succinct response.

“I don’t blame them,” he said. “When you play like poo, you should get talked about like that. I need to play better. If I’m not giving them a reason to talk good, then I’m giving them a reason to talk badly. That’s all on me. I need to play better.”

Roethlisberger gave barely a glancing measure of blame at the rest of the offense.

“We all need to perform better, and it starts with me,” he said. “I have to complete passes, if that’s the call. If it’s run, then we have to get hats on hats, if you will. Once again … if I had an answer to it, we wouldn’t be having these issues. We can’t fix anything until we get out there on Sunday, really.”

Roethlisberger revealed that the Steelers had a players meeting Wednesday that was heavy on the offensive side but insisted “it had nothing to do with the losses. It had everything to do with where we are, and where we’re going. It wasn’t a players-only panic meeting.”

Defensive tackle Cam Heyward agreed that Pittsburgh isn’t panicking.

“It’s a three-game losing streak, but that’s coming off an 11-game winning streak,” Heyward said. “I’m looking forward to getting back on this horse.”

The game matches Roethlisberger and a fellow veteran in Indianapolis quarterback Philip Rivers.

“The similarities are they’ve both been incredibly durable. They’ve both been incredibly productive,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “They’ve been incredibly effective in the pocket.”

That’s just one storyline.

“These are the games you dream about — going to Pittsburgh in December with something on the line,” Rivers said.

It doesn’t matter to Indianapolis what each team has done lately.

“When you go on the road this late in the season and in this means of a game, it’s going to take a complete team effort,” Reich said.

Steelers linebacker Vince Williams was reinstated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, which could give a boost to a position that has been in flux in terms of personnel availability.

In addition, running back James Conner (quadriceps) practiced Wednesday after missing a game. However, tight end Eric Ebron (back), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (back) and linebackers Marcus Allen (stinger), Ulysees Gilbert III (ankle), and Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) didn’t practice.

For Indianapolis, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday, but that was considered precautionary after he returned from that injury last weekend.

Also sitting out practice were tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) and receiver Marcus Johnson (quadriceps), along with Rivers, who simply is following his regular routine, Reich said.

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PITTSBURGH vs NY GIANTS
When: 9/14/2020 7:15 PM
Where:

TV: 7:15 PM
LINE: 4
PREDICTION: NY GIANTS , PITTSBURGH

Oddsmakers currently have the NY GIANTS listed as 4 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

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SEATTLE vs PITTSBURGH
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Steelers -4.
O/U: 46
PREDICTION: Seahawks 27, Steelers 26

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as -4 point favorites versus the SEATTLE, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger engaged in a high-octane shootout the last time they shared the field, so there is no telling what may happen when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Wilson passed for 345 yards and five touchdowns in the 39-30 home win during the 2015 season while Roethlisberger passed for 456 yards but just one score.

Roethlisberger and his teammates got off to a poor start in Week 1 as they were shellacked 33-3 by New England in their first game without departed receiver Antonio Brown. “I am only going to focus on the quarterback play, and the quarterback has to get better,” Roethlisberger, who passed for 276 yards and one interception, told reporters. “We didn’t execute well enough. I didn’t make enough plays, enough throws and they outscored us. … Half the teams lost their first game. Guys realize what Week 1 was, and now we are going into Week 2.” Seattle posted a 21-20 victory over Cincinnati, but it wasn’t pretty as the club was outgained 429-233. “We played from behind the whole day and those guys never stopped,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters. “They never stopped thinking we were going to win the football game, and that’s so valuable to us.”

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-0): Wilson was 14-of-20 for 196 yards and two scores in the opener while defensive end Quinton Jefferson, a Pittsburgh native, fueled the defense with a career-best two sacks. Star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney recorded two tackles and a sack during his team debut and is working on assimilating himself into the unit after recently being acquired from Houston. “He’s been great attitude-wise,” Carroll said at a press conference. “His mentality has been great. He’s been upbeat, positive and he’s been trying to stay out of the limelight. He’s being very humble, that has been his approach. … He’s really happy about being here.”

ABOUT THE STEELERS (0-1): Pittsburgh never got untracked against the Patriots and running back James Conner was a non-factor with 21 yards on 10 carries. Wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster is the new primary target with Brown gone, and he had six receptions for 78 yards while newcomer Donte Moncrief was a big disappointment with three catches for seven yards while being targeted a team-high 10 times. Rookie linebacker Devin Bush stood out with 11 tackles in his debut, but the unit recorded only one sack — from linebacker Bud Dupree — and didn’t force a turnover.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Seahawks hold a 9-8 regular-season edge, but the Steelers have won two of the last three meetings.

2. Pittsburgh LB T.J. Watt (hip) was injured in the season opener and is questionable for Week 2.

3. Seattle CB Tre Flowers had a fumble recovery and a career-best 10 tackles in Week 1.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 27, Steelers 26

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PITTSBURGH vs NEW ENGLAND
When: 8:20 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: -6
PREDICTION: NEW ENGLAND , PITTSBURGH

Oddsmakers currently have the NEW ENGLAND listed as -6 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

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PITTSBURGH vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (26-26) at Cincinnati Reds (25-29)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Pittsburgh Pirates appeared ready to put a 1-5 homestand behind them but quickly resorted to their recent losing ways. Pittsburgh attempts to prevent another skid when it visits the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for the third contest of their four-game series.

The Pirates halted a three-game slide by winning the opener of Monday’s doubleheader – their fourth straight road victory – but were trounced 8-1 in the nightcap. Bryan Reynolds and Josh Bell, who respectively are riding six- and seven-game hitting streaks, recorded two hits apiece in the setback after the former drove in two runs and the latter belted a solo homer in Pittsburgh’s 8-5 triumph in the first game. Jose Iglesias highlighted a six-run first inning for Cincinnati in Monday’s second contest with his first career grand slam while Derek Dietrich and Yasiel Puig went back-to-back in the seventh as the Reds continued their trend of alternating wins and losses that has been in effect over their last 11 games. Puig has belted three homers in his last five contests and registered four two-hit performances in his last seven games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-1, 2.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Lucas Sims (2018: 0-0, 7.47)

Lyles won his third consecutive start on Thursday despite yielding a season-high six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against Colorado. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina had given up one run in each of his previous three turns and more than two just once in eight outings prior to facing the Rockies. Lyles is 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 15 career games (eight starts) versus Cincinnati, including a no-decision in his season debut on April 4 in which he scattered three hits and three walks over five scoreless frames.

Sims is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Louisville to make his 11th major-league start and first since 2017 with Atlanta. The 25-year-old native of Georgia, who was a first-round pick of the Braves in the 2012 draft, was acquired in July as part of a package for Adam Duvall and allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the Reds. Sims has made nine starts for Louisville this year, going 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto is tied with Johnny Bench for fourth place on the franchise list with 381 doubles and even with Brandon Phillips for ninth in team history with 1,774 hits.

2. The Pirates purchased the contract of Alex McRae and recalled fellow RHPs Richard Rodriguez and Mitch Keller, who suffered the loss in his major-league debut on Monday, from Indianapolis and assigned RHPs Dovydas Neverauskas and Montana DuRapau to the Triple-A affiliate.

3. Cincinnati acquired RHP Tristan Archer from Milwaukee for cash and assigned him to Louisville while Pittsburgh obtained RHP Yefry Ramirez from Baltimore for a player to be named or cash and assigned him to Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

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PITTSBURGH vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (25-25) at Cincinnati Reds (24-28)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: -215
PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as -215 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were on the fast track toward making some headway in the ultra-competitive National League Central before surrendering 48 runs to lose five of their last six games. The visiting Pirates aim to get back on track Monday when they play a doubleheader against the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds, who have won nine of their last 15.

Adam Frazier homered and recorded his second multi-hit performance of the series in Sunday’s 11-6 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old also had a pair of two-hit efforts versus Cincinnati this season, highlighted by his solo homer in Pittsburgh’s 7-5 win on April 7. Nick Senzel was still in Triple-A during the first two series between the division rivals, although the 23-year-old enters this set riding high after recording career highs in hits (three) and runs scored (four) in the Reds’ 10-2 romp over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Joey Votto posted multi-hit performances in all three games in the series versus the Cubs and is 9-for-22 during his five-game hitting streak.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (1-1, 8.76 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (5-1, 2.38)

Kingham owns an 0-1 mark in his last two trips to the mound despite surrendering 13 runs and 19 hits, including six and nine, respectively, on Wednesday in a no-decision versus Colorado. The 27-year-old struck out two in two scoreless innings to pick up the win in a 2-0 victory against Cincinnati on April 4 before allowing two runs in two frames of a no-decision versus the Reds. Tucker Barnhart is 3-for-3 in a small sample size against Kingham, although the hurler has fared better against Eugenio Suarez (1-for-7) and Jose Peraza (1-for-7).

Castillo has enjoyed a stellar start to 2019 before authoring a dud on Wednesday, when he allowed four runs on five hits — including two homers — in a season-low 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old pitched well in his lone encounter with Pittsburgh this season, permitting one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision on March 28. Castillo sports a 1-3 mark with a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in six career starts versus the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Suarez is 8-for-17 with a homer, six RBIs and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

2. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell is 14-for-35 with four homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last nine contests

3. Monday’s doubleheader came as a result of the March 30 game being postponed due to rain.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3

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LA DODGERS vs PITTSBURGH
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (34-18) at Pittsburgh Pirates (25-24)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 26 – 1:35 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
LINE: 140
PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Pirates 2

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 140 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Los Angeles Dodgers try for their 10th straight victory in the all-time series when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday for the finale of their three-game series. Los Angeles, which is 17-2 versus Pittsburgh since 2017, rolled to a 7-2 win on Saturday and is 5-2 on its eight-game road trip and 8-2 in its last 10 overall contests as Cody Bellinger continues to swing a hot bat.

Bellinger leads the National League in batting average (.391) and RBIs (48) after going 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs on Saturday. Los Angeles also received plenty of production from its Nos. 1-3 hitters as Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Corey Seager were a combined 6-for-14 with three RBIs and four runs scored. The Pirates have lost four of their last five games – all at home – and have been outscored 37-21 during that span. Los Angeles’ Kenta Maeda on Sunday makes his first start since recovering from a left adductor contusion and opposes Chris Archer, who lost at Dodger Stadium last month.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55)

Maeda was rolling when he went on the injured list, putting together a 14 2/3-inning scoreless streak after allowing three hits and registering a season-high 12 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-0 victory over San Diego on May 15. The 31-year-old native of Japan hasn’t yielded a run in three of his last four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA during that span. Maeda, who has recorded 52 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings this season, is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two starts versus Pittsburgh.

Archer permitted four runs – three earned – and six hits in five innings of a 5-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday for his fourth straight setback. The 30-year-old native of North Carolina dropped a 6-2 decision at Los Angeles on April 26, allowing six runs in six frames before landing on the injured list (thumb). Bellinger belted a two-run homer in that contest off Archer, who is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (concussion-like symptoms) left Saturday’s game in the fourth inning after getting hit in the helmet by Bellinger’s back swing.

2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner (shin) did not play Saturday but is expected to be in the lineup for the series finale.

3. Pittsburgh OF Melky Cabrera, who recorded his 1,900th career hit on May 19 in San Diego, played in his 1,800th game on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Pirates 2

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COLORADO vs PITTSBURGH
GAME: Colorado Rockies (21-25) at Pittsburgh Pirates (24-21)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
LINE: 110
PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Rockies 2

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 110 point favorites versus the COLORADO, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon tries to continue being a catalyst in the lead-off spot when the Rockies visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in the second contest of their three-game series. Blackmon is batting .343 in May after recording his sixth three-hit game of the season – highlighted by a two-run triple – in a 5-0 victory Tuesday that snapped Colorado’s four-game losing streak.

The Rockies are also receiving plenty of offense from third baseman Nolan Arenado and shortstop Trevor Story, who became the first Colorado tandem in 15 years to record at least 10 home runs, 30 RBIs and 30 runs scored in the first 45 games of a season. Story belted his 11th home run Tuesday while Arenado went 2-for-5, raising his club-high batting average to .308. The Rockies had lost 12 of their previous 17 games at PNC Park before cooling off Pittsburgh, which came home with a head of steam after an 7-4 road trip. Colorado’s Jon Gray takes the ball Wednesday after allowing 18 runs in his last four starts over 21 innings and opposes Montana DuRapau, who makes his second appearance as an opener after pitching well in that role Saturday.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (3-4, 4.73 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Montana DuRapau (0-0, 1.35)

Gray yielded five runs, five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The 27-year-old Oklahoman, who was the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, struck out 25 in his last three starts but permitted six of his 10 home runs allowed in the past four outings. Gray is 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA in three career turns against Pittsburgh.

DuRapau allowed one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over the first two innings of the Pirates’ 7-2 victory at San Diego on Saturday after his first four career appearances came in relief this month. The 27-year-old Floridian plays the opener’s role again after Trevor Williams sustained a side strain while swinging a bat against San Diego on Thursday and was placed on the injured list. Pittsburgh was off Monday and used two relievers Tuesday with Chris Stratton pitching three innings and Michael Feliz one.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates RF Gregory Polanco (finger) did not play Tuesday while C Francisco Cervelli left in the sixth inning (chest).

2. Colorado has outscored opponents 25-24 while starting its eight-game road trip 2-4.

3. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell, the reigning National League Player of the Week, went 0-for-4 on Tuesday after going 15-for-31 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his previous eight games.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Rockies 2

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COLORADO vs PITTSBURGH
GAME: Colorado Rockies (20-25) at Pittsburgh Pirates (24-20)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
LINE: 110
PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Rockies 2

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 110 point favorites versus the COLORADO, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

There’s nothing like a 7-4 road trip to make a baseball team and its manager happy so the Pittsburgh Pirates are in good spirits as they open a six-game homestand with three against the slumping Colorado Rockies starting Tuesday. Pittsburgh split the first eight games of the trek before winning the final three in San Diego, and turns its attention to improving its 9-9 record at PNC Park.

“I’m proud of the effort,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. “I’m proud of the energy, and the offense is starting to do some things that are significant, as well. It was a fun trip for us. It was a good baseball trip.” Colorado won the opener of its eight-game road trip but lost the next four, including a three-game sweep at Philadelphia over the weekend by a combined four runs. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the club in batting average (.306), home runs (11) and RBIs (35) but is 4-for-20 with a two-run homer on the trip, told reporters: “It’s not for lack of preparation or effort. We’re just not executing right now.” Pittsburgh’s Chris Archer takes the ball Tuesday after getting roughed up in his first start since returning from the disabled list and opposes German Marquez, who boasts a 2.55 road ERA.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH German Marquez (4-2, 3.80 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (1-3, 5.58)

Marquez had allowed five runs in 29 innings over four road starts before yielding five runs and 10 hits across 6 1/3 frames and receiving a no-decision in Colorado’s 6-5 loss to Boston on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan has a 5.76 ERA in his last four starts after posting a 2.54 through his first six turns of the season. Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell (.333, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs this season) is 1-for-11 with a home run and four strikeouts versus Marquez, who is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against the Pirates.

Archer permitted seven runs (six earned for the second straight game), four hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings of an 11-1 loss at Arizona on Wednesday. The 30-year-old North Carolina native, whose 4.7 walks per nine innings would mark the worst rate of his career, missed 18 days because of right thumb inflammation. The Rockies’ roster is hitting .250 with one home run (David Dahl) in 48 at-bats versus Archer, who is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings against Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh OF Melky Cabrera (team-high .341) recorded his 1,900th career hit Sunday and is 9-for-21 in his last seven games.

2. Rockies RF Charlie Blackmon (.294, 10 home runs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs scored) is batting .323 with seven homers, 13 RBIs and 20 runs in 15 May games after going 2-for-5 and belting his 33rd career lead-off home run Sunday.

3. The clubs have split each of the last two season series after the Pirates won 15 of 20 meetings from 2014-16.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Rockies 2

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PITTSBURGH vs SAN DIEGO
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (21-20) at San Diego Padres (23-21)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS San Diego
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Padres 2

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN DIEGO listed as -135 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.

Ian Kinsler has been a major disappointment in his first season with the San Diego Padres. But the veteran second baseman delivered the game-winning three-run homer in the series opener and will look to be productive again on Friday, when the Padres host the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second contest of their four-game set.

Kinsler is batting just .175 on the season and is only 3-for-20 over his last five games, including the three-run blast in the sixth inning that slammed off the facing of the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. Franmil Reyes also went deep – his third blast in four games – for San Diego, which halted its three-game slide. The hot-hitting Josh Bell struck out twice in four at-bats for Pittsburgh in the opener to end a career-best 15-game hitting streak during which he went 26-for-61 with six homers and 21 RBIs. Starling Marte also fanned twice while going 0-for-5, striking out to end the game, as his 10-game hitting streak came to an end.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (3-1, 2.09 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.57)

Lyles is coming off a strong outing in which he gave up one run and one hit over six innings while defeating St. Louis. The 28-year-old has allowed fewer than two runs in five of his last seven starts. Lyles is 2-4 with a 5.60 ERA in 12 career games (eight starts) against the Padres, a team for which he made 29 appearances over parts of the last two seasons.

Lucchesi gave up one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings against Colorado in his last outing but settled for his third straight no-decision. The 25-year-old has issued fewer than three walks in all eight of his starts while registering 40 strikeouts in 41 2/3 frames. Lucchesi defeated the Pirates in his lone start against them last season as he allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres RHP Kirby Yates increased his major-league lead to 17 saves by working a perfect ninth inning in the series opener.

2. Pittsburgh RHP Trevor Williams (side) departed Thursday’s game after 3 2/3 frames and will be re-evaluated on Friday.

3. San Diego set the major-league record for most consecutive games without a no-hitter (8,020) – the franchise never has recorded one – breaking the mark previously held by the New York Mets.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Padres 2

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