PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs NY ISLANDERS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Thursday, November 1, 2018
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: NY ISLANDERS , PITTSBURGH

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as -165-moneyline favorites versus the NY ISLANDERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins answered a sweep of their four-game road trip with getting doubled up in the opener of a home-and-home series against the New York Islanders. The Penguins aim to regain their good fortune on the road Thursday when they vie for a split versus the Islanders, who have won three in a row overall and six straight versus Metropolitan Division rivals dating to last season.

“Mentally you know what to expect, knowing how they play, what the game looked like, tendencies,” captain Sidney Crosby said after scoring in his fourth straight contest in Tuesday’s 6-3 setback. “That’s probably the biggest thing just being able to envision what the game will look like and what to expect, and preparing for that.” Fellow former Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin scored a goal to extend his point streak to eight games overall (five goals, 11 assists) and give him at least one point in 14 of his last 18 encounters versus the Islanders. Jordan Eberle tallied twice in the second period and Brock Nelson netted his fifth goal in five contests for New York, which scored five goals on its first 10 shots Tuesday. The Islanders have collected at least one point in seven of their last eight meetings (4-1-3) with the Penguins and are 5-1-1 in their last seven home games versus the division rival.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Sportsnet360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (6-2-2): A lower-body injury prevented Kris Letang from playing in the opener of the home-and-home set, but the offensive-minded defenseman was able to practice on Wednesday and will determine his availability for the finale based on how he feels Thursday morning. “I felt pretty good,” the 31-year-old said. “I tested it a little bit earlier to see if I was able to skate with the guys. It went pretty well after that. I was going hard.” Center Derick Brassard has been ruled out versus the Islanders after he failed to skate in Wednesday’s practice due to a lower-body injury.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (6-4-1): Thomas Greiss has turned aside 55 of 57 shots during his stints in the last three games, including 12 of 13 in the third period on Tuesday in relief of an injured Robin Lehner. The 32-year-old Greiss likely will get the nod on Thursday with coach Barry Trotz deeming Lehner as day-to-day with “a strain.” Fellow goaltender Christopher Gibson was brought up on emergency recall from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League while forward Tom Kuhnhackl was loaned to the Sound Tigers, one day after scoring his first goal of the season versus his former team.

OVERTIME

1. New York LW Josh Bailey set up a goal Tuesday, pushing his point and assist streaks to six and five games, respectively.

2. Pittsburgh D Jamie Oleksiak and Dominik Simon are both riding career-high four-game point streaks, with the former notching two assists on Tuesday while the latter scored his second goal of the season.

3. Islanders RW Cal Clutterbuck could draw back in the lineup on Thursday, Trotz announced.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Islanders 3

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NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Monday, November 5, 2018
Where: PPG PAINTS Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH , NEW JERSEY

Oddsmakers currently have the NEW JERSEY listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t set the Steel City on fire with its play at PPG Paints Arena while the New Jersey Devils are ice cold when considered the road team this season. The Penguins bid to end a three-game home losing skid on Monday when they host the desperate Devils, who have dropped three straight to begin their seven-game road trip and six of seven overall (1-5-1).

Both Metropolitan Division teams are coming off their first shutout loss of the season, as Toronto cruised to a 5-0 triumph in Pittsburgh on Saturday while the New York Islanders skated to a 3-0 victory versus New Jersey. “You win a few games in a row and you feel good about yourself, but the league has a funny way of humbling you and right now we’ve been humbled,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. New Jersey’s Taylor Hall took an optimistic view after New Jersey’s blanking, telling reporters that “we’d almost take that game than playing (poorly) and winning. … Right now, we’ll take the way we played.” The reigning Hart Trophy winner punished Pittsburgh in four outings last season, highlighted by capping a three-point performance by scoring on a breakaway 27 seconds into overtime of a 4-3 win on March 23.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE DEVILS (5-5-1): Kyle Palmieri has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games after erupting for 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in October. The 27-year-old tallied twice last season versus Pittsburgh while fellow forward Hall gashed the Penguins for three goals and four assists. Keith Kinkaid likely will be in net looking to end his woes outside of the Garden State, as he sports an 0-3-0 mark with a 4.45 goals-against average and .865 save percentage on the road.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (6-3-3): Captain Sidney Crosby bids to turn the page after the team’s shutout against the Maple Leafs when he faces New Jersey, against which he recorded four points (three goals, one assist) last season to match Brian Dumoulin (one goal, three assists) for the team lead. “There’s not much to say with that one (versus Toronto),” the 31-year-old Crosby told reporters. “… We have to move on. There’s not much positive to take out of this one. We have to make sure that we’re better on Monday.” Fellow former Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin, who saw his nine-game point streak halted on Saturday, had just one point in four encounters versus the Devils last season.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh G Matt Murray has yielded at least five goals in four of eight appearances this season.

2. New Jersey C Travis Zajac is one assist shy of 300 for his career.

3. Penguins RW Phil Kessel, who is tied with Malkin for the team lead in goals (seven), had just one tally versus the Devils last season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Devils 2

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PITTSBURGH vs CLEVELAND
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -4
PREDICTION: CLEVELAND , PITTSBURGH

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as -4 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

Technically, it’s not a must-win game for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season finale.

The Browns (10-5) can still slink into the playoffs with a loss, provided the right combination of other teams lose and/or win. But Cleveland isn’t viewing another showdown with the Steelers (12-3) in such a light.

“We’ve got to come ready to play like it’s a playoff game,” said Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt.

With a win, Cleveland is in. Pittsburgh already knows it will be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the postseason, which led to Mike Tomlin declaring this week that Ben Roethlisberger will get the week off. Backup Mason Rudolph will get his first start of the year.

The move adds more intrigue to the matchup. Last year, Cleveland broke a five-year non-winning streak against Pittsburgh in Cleveland with a 21-7 victory on Nov. 14, 2019. But in the closing moments, defensive end Myles Garret ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and swung it at the quarterback to spark an on-field brawl.

The incident led Garrett to be suspended for the final six games of last season. Garrett, who had 10 sacks through 10 games last season before the suspension, has 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 12 sacks this year.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t concerned about that subplot. Rudolph, who has just four passing attempts and 20 offensive snaps all season, had seven plays on the field during Pittsburgh’s 38-7 rout of the Browns in Week 6 this season.

“We talk about maintaining our composure in every single game, it’s nothing new this week,” Stefanski said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re keeping the main thing (in mind) and focusing on our work.”

Tomlin said the Garrett/Rudolph issue is a non-starter for him.

“That is so far in our rearview mirror that we can’t see it,” he said.

Cleveland has more pressing issues to address. The team temporarily closed its facility again on Wednesday following more positive COVID-19 tests within the organization.

On Tuesday, the team put tight end Harrison Bryant and safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Last Sunday, in a 23-16 loss to the New York Jets, the Browns played without their top four wide receivers, who were forced to sit out of the game because of contact tracing. The Browns are hopeful the receiving corps, including leader Jarvis Landry (789 yards), will be able to return against the Steelers.

Stefanski said Wednesday that rookie offensive tackle Jedrick Wills would return this week from a non-COVID-related illness, but the Browns weren’t sure when he will practice. Starting right guard Wyatt Teller (ankle) was also expected to be available after missing the last two games.

“We have to do everything in our power to win this week,” Stefanski said.

Pittsburgh rallied from a 17-point deficit last week to beat the Indianapolis Colts and lock up a playoff spot. The win snapped a three-game losing skid.

Pittsburgh secures the No. 2 seed with a win and a loss or tie by the Bills (12-3) against the Dolphins (10-5), but without a bye within reach, Tomlin said his team might benefit more by resting key players. He hasn’t said who, beyond Roethlisberger, will sit or for how long, but vowed the Steelers will play to win.

If the Bills and Steelers finish with identical records, Buffalo would receive the higher seed since the Bills defeated the Steelers, 26-15, on Dec. 13.

“The standard is the standard,” Tomlin said. “Our job is to win football games.”

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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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