Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Pirates are on the road tonight to start a three-game series at Philadelphia, and the hot Phillies will get star outfielder Bryce Harper back from the 60-day injured list.
The reigning National League MVP needed only two rehab games to get ready to return to the Phils. He was 5-for-8 in two games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and hit two home runs yesterday. Harper was hitting .318 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs when he was hit on the thumb by a Blake Snell fastball on June 25th.
The Pirates were outscored by the Braves, 22-4 in Atlanta’s three-game sweep that ended the Bucs’ homestand. The Phils last night completed a four-game sweep of the Reds.
Bryse Wilson pitches for the Pirates tonight. He is 2-7 with a 5.74 ERA and is coming off his best start of the season, when he went seven innings in a win over the Reds last Friday. The Phillies will throw Bailey Falter, who is 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA and steps in for Zack Wheeler, the scheduled starter who ended up being placed on the injured list yesterday with forearm tendonitis.
ALTOONA
Endy Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to twelve games with his 4th home run for the Curve and 20th overall this season, but Altoona lost to Bowie, 11-8. Nick Gonzalez and Aaron Shackelford also homered for the Curve.
Luis Ortiz starts for the Curve tonight in the fourth game of the series. He is 5-8 with a 4.69 ERA.
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