Preview: Dodgers at Pirates
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim for their first series win against a National League team in nearly a month when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the rubber match of a three-game series on Thursday. The Pirates scored two total runs during a three-game slide - including back-to-back 5-0 losses - before breaking out for an 11-9 victory Wednesday night.
Josh Harrison set the tone with a three-run double in the second inning and Corey Dickerson had three hits along with four runs scored as Pittsburgh matched its best scoring output since April 6. The Dodgers failed to get above .500 for the first time since April 23 while falling for just the fifth time in their last 19 games. Prospect Caleb Ferguson could not survive the second inning in Wednesday's loss and Los Angeles was forced to run through seven relievers to get to the finish line. That is not an ideal situation with Dennis Santana slated to make his first career start for the Dodgers on Thursday opposite Jameson Taillon for Pittsburgh.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Dennis Santana (1-0, 12.27 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (3-4, 3.97)
Santana got a win in his first career appearance, although he can thank his offense for the victory. The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic was reached for five runs on six hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of relief in the 11-8 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Santana posted a 2.54 ERA in 10 starts between Double-A and Triple-A earlier this year.
Taillon won for the first time in 10 starts after spinning eight scoreless innings at St. Louis on Friday. He limited the Cardinals to three hits and struck out six while recording just his second quality start since the end of April. Chris Taylor is 3-for-3 with a double against Taillon, who gave up nine runs in nine innings through his first two career starts versus the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers optioned RHP Pedro Baez to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the roster for Ferguson.
2. Los Angeles LF Matt Kemp knocked in five runs Wednesday and has 13 RBIs over a seven-game span.
3. Dickerson is 11-for-25 with seven runs scored during a six-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Dodgers 4
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim for their first series win against a National League team in nearly a month when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the rubber match of a three-game series on Thursday. The Pirates scored two total runs during a three-game slide - including back-to-back 5-0 losses - before breaking out for an 11-9 victory Wednesday night.
Josh Harrison set the tone with a three-run double in the second inning and Corey Dickerson had three hits along with four runs scored as Pittsburgh matched its best scoring output since April 6. The Dodgers failed to get above .500 for the first time since April 23 while falling for just the fifth time in their last 19 games. Prospect Caleb Ferguson could not survive the second inning in Wednesday's loss and Los Angeles was forced to run through seven relievers to get to the finish line. That is not an ideal situation with Dennis Santana slated to make his first career start for the Dodgers on Thursday opposite Jameson Taillon for Pittsburgh.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Dennis Santana (1-0, 12.27 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (3-4, 3.97)
Santana got a win in his first career appearance, although he can thank his offense for the victory. The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic was reached for five runs on six hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of relief in the 11-8 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Santana posted a 2.54 ERA in 10 starts between Double-A and Triple-A earlier this year.
Taillon won for the first time in 10 starts after spinning eight scoreless innings at St. Louis on Friday. He limited the Cardinals to three hits and struck out six while recording just his second quality start since the end of April. Chris Taylor is 3-for-3 with a double against Taillon, who gave up nine runs in nine innings through his first two career starts versus the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers optioned RHP Pedro Baez to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the roster for Ferguson.
2. Los Angeles LF Matt Kemp knocked in five runs Wednesday and has 13 RBIs over a seven-game span.
3. Dickerson is 11-for-25 with seven runs scored during a six-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Dodgers 4