BASEBALL PREVIEW: Braves at Pirates

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves, owners of the National League’s second-best record, open a critical three-game series Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT under a weather forecast calling for 85 degrees and rain.

Atlanta (52-36) holds a six-game lead in the NL East and arrives in Pittsburgh having lost three of its last four, including a 10-9 defeat Sunday to the New York Mets. Pittsburgh (46-45) sits three games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and has won three of its last four, capped by an 11-5 victory Sunday at Washington.

The Braves swept a three-game set from the Pirates in Atlanta from June 5-7, outscoring Pittsburgh 15-8.

Players to watch

Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has been a catalyst but remains inconsistent. In Sunday’s loss to the Mets, he went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. However, Baldwin entered that game in a 1-for-21 slump over his previous six contests. On the season, he is batting .264 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs.

Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe has been a steady run producer. He homered and drove in three runs in Sunday’s win over the Nationals, and over his last 10 games is batting .300 (9 for 30) with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Lowe leads Pittsburgh with 20 homers and 62 RBIs.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Pirates victory.

Up next

The teams play Wednesday and Thursday at PNC Park before Atlanta travels to St. Louis for a weekend series. Pittsburgh returns home to host Milwaukee for three games beginning Friday.