Preview: Pirates at Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants conclude their three-game series Sunday evening at Oracle Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. under cloudy skies and a forecasted temperature of 63 degrees.

Pittsburgh (21-18) enters with a 2-1 series advantage after Saturday’s 2-1 victory. The Pirates have won four of their last six overall. San Francisco (15-23) has dropped 10 of its last 12.

Right-handers Bubba Chandler (1-4) and Tyler Mahle (1-4) are listed as Pittsburgh’s probable pitchers, though it remains unclear which will start. Both own identical 1-4 records. Chandler has struggled, while Mahle returns from a recent bullpen session. For San Francisco, left-hander Robbie Ray (3-1) takes the mound, looking to build on his last outing (Interstat) — a 5-2 win against these same Pirates on Friday. Ray tossed six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts.

Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski, who did not factor into Friday’s decision despite a solid start (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 K), is a player to watch. He has been inconsistent this season but delivered a six-inning, two-hit shutout performance against Washington on April 15.

Ray has been steady recently, allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. He fired five innings of one-run ball against Miami on April 25 and struck out seven in a losing effort at Washington on April 19.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-2 Pirates victory. Pittsburgh is installed as a -1.5 favorite on the run line, with the over/under set at 8 runs.

After this series, the Pirates return home Tuesday to begin a six-game homestand against Colorado and Philadelphia. The Giants travel to Los Angeles for four games starting Monday.