PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies and a temperature of 54 degrees.

The Pirates (24-20) enter as the hotter team, holding a three-game lead over their National League rivals in the early-season standings. Philadelphia sits at 21-23, but arrives having won three of its last four.

The pitching matchup features left-hander Jesús Luzardo for the Phillies against right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski for Pittsburgh.

Luzardo earned a win in his last start Thursday, holding Boston to four hits over six scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory. In five starts this season, he has posted two quality outings, including a seven-inning shutout performance against San Francisco on April 28. However, he was roughed up in his May 8 start against Colorado, allowing six earned runs in three innings.

Mlodzinski also won his most recent outing, limiting Colorado to two runs over five innings in a 7-2 victory Thursday. His season has been inconsistent: he struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings in a win over Cincinnati on May 2, but allowed five earned runs in consecutive losses to Texas and Milwaukee in late April.

Philadelphia’s offense has been solid during a stretch that saw them take two of three from Boston, scoring seven runs in Thursday’s win. Pittsburgh’s bats have been potent as well, plating 13 runs in a win over San Francisco on May 9.

The game marks the first of a three-game set between the division foes. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Philadelphia victory, giving the Phillies a 53% win probability per its ELO system.

Oddsmakers have installed Pittsburgh as a slight favorite with a -1.5 run line. The over/under is set at eight runs.

Philadelphia will send Luzardo to the mound again Saturday in the second game of the series. Pittsburgh will counter with a yet-to-be-named starter.

The Pirates will look to extend their winning momentum after taking the finale against Colorado, while the Phillies aim to build on their series victory in Boston.