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ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves meet Saturday evening at Truist Park for the second game of their series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures near 83 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pittsburgh (34-29) enters having won four of its last five games, including a 5-1 victory Thursday at Houston. The Braves (42-21) own the best record in the National League but lost 7-2 to Toronto on Thursday, snapping a three-game winning streak.

The Pirates are expected to start right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (5-2) or right-hander Spencer Strider (3-1). Atlanta’s starter was not announced as of Friday afternoon.

Rookie right-hander Jared Jones is a player to watch for Pittsburgh. In his most recent outing Thursday at Houston, Jones earned the win with five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out four. Two starts earlier, on May 29 against Minnesota, he gave up five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 6-5 win.

Right-hander Chris Sale is a key arm for the Atlanta bullpen. Over his last four appearances, Sale has a 2.65 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. He took the loss Thursday against Toronto, allowing three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

In the series opener Friday, the teams played to a 3-3 tie in a game that did not reach extra innings under pandemic-era rules. The Pirates and Braves have split their season series to date.

Pittsburgh’s offense has been productive recently. In Thursday’s win at Houston, right fielder Ryan O’Hearn went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Reliever Carmen Mlodzinski earned a save with four innings of one-run ball.

For Atlanta, shortstop Mauricio Dubón went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in Thursday’s loss. Right-hander Didier Fuentes pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-6 Pittsburgh victory. The Pirates are listed as a -1.5 favorite on the run line, with the over/under set at 8 total runs.

After Saturday’s game, the teams conclude the series Sunday at Truist Park. Pittsburgh then returns home to open a six-game homestand Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Atlanta travels to Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox beginning Tuesday.