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Talk about a HOT trend: The Pirates come into Arizona 1-12 versus the Diamondbacks.
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Even more amazing is that Arizona won the last eight of these on the road. Pittsburgh won a game previous to this streak in Arizona.
The line on this one has moved up from -159 to -172.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (1-0, 5.94 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.30)
Kingham answered eight appearances out of the bullpen with a four-inning start on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits in a no-decision against Texas. The 27-year-old issued three walks to drive up his pitch count to 78 in his 16th career start. Kingham struggled in a relief role versus Arizona on April 24, permitting three runs on as many hits over two innings of a no-decision.
Fresh off a season-high 11-strikeout performance, Ray needs to fan six batters on Monday to reach 800 for his career and become the second-fastest left-hander in games played (125) to reach the milestone (Frank Tanana, 120). The 27-year-old Ray struck out six of the seven batters he faced with runners in scoring position and scattered four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision at Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Francisco Cervelli is just 1-for-8 with two strikeouts and Bell is 1-for-5 - albeit with a homer - against Ray, who is 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five career starts versus Pittsburgh.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
