Giants take on the Pirates in first of 3-game series
Pittsburgh Pirates (21-17, third in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (14-23, fifth in the NL West) San Francisco; Friday, 10:15 p. m.
EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2, 4. 76 ERA, 1. 50 WHIP, 40 strikeouts); Giants: Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.
95 ERA, 1. 06 WHIP, 40 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. San Francisco has a 14-23 record overall and an 8-11 record at home.
Giants hitters are batting a collective . 238, which ranks 10th in the NL. Pittsburgh has a 10-8 record on the road and a 21-17 record overall.
The Pirates have the eighth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at . 387. The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.