SAN FRANCISCO -- Two teams that haven't taken advantage of a stretch of games against fellow National League playoff contenders square off in an important four-game series when the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants duel Thursday night.
Pirates right-hander Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.49 ERA) and Giants lefty Andrew Suarez (4-7, 4.60) are the scheduled starters in the series opener in a matchup of pitchers who suffered losses when the clubs met in a three-game set in Pittsburgh in May.
The Pirates won two of three in that series, starting when they bombed Suarez for five runs and seven hits in four innings in an 11-2 victory.