At Chase Field
Game time: 9:40PM ET
Probable starters:
PIT: Gerrit Cole (1-3, 3.14 ERA)
ARI: Zack Grienke (3-2, 3.09 ERA)
Quote:
Two star pitchers who got off to slow starts but appear to be back on track face off on Thursday when the Pirates open four-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field.
Arizona will start right-hander Zack Greinke, who has gone 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in his last four starts, with 33 strikeouts to just three walks.
Gerrit Cole starts for the Pirates and has a 1.97 ERA and six walks to 36 strikeouts in his last five starts.
Things to know about this game
• Over his first three starts this season, Greinke saw opposing hitters reach an exit velocity of 95 mph or harder on 37.7 percent of their batted balls against him. In his past four starts, that rate has dropped to 21.1 percent -- second-lowest behind the Cardinals' Michael Wacha among pitchers with at least 50 total batted balls in that span.
• The Pirates won two of three games at Chase Field last season and have won five of their last six matchups with the D-backs.
• Cole is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four career starts against Arizona.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/229639686 ... _pk=490620BEAT 'EM BUCS!!!
