The week ahead
at Arizona
9:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT)
9:40 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT)
3:40 p.m. Thursday (SN PIT)
• The Pirates will step into National League West territory for a three-game set against another team hovering around the .500 mark. The D-backs were thumped by the Brewers, 13-1, on Thursday. First baseman Ildemaro Vargas was riding a 23-game hitting streak (26 going back to last season) and entered a series against the Cubs batting .378 with six homers and 20 RBIs. RF Corbin Carrol is batting .296, and 3B Nolan Arenado is hitting .276. Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03 ERA) and Michael Soroka (4.70 ERA, 36 strikeouts) have anchored the rotation so far.
At Giants
10:15 p.m. Friday (SN PIT)
9:05 p.m. Saturday (SN PIT)
4:05 p.m. Sunday (SN PIT)
• The Giants are trying to find their footing after a 13-17 start heading into a series in Tampa Bay. Three-time all-star first baseman Rafael Devers is in a slump, hitting .203 with two homers, 10 RBIs and 38 strikeouts through 30 games. The Giants average just 3.30 runs per game, lowest in the major leagues. 2B Luis Arraez is batting a team-high .304, and DH Casey Schmitt is hitting .295 with four homers and 14 RBIs. The Giants have had some solid efforts in the rotation, namely Landen Roup (5-1, 2.55 ERA, .149 batting average against).