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Pirates-Diamondbacks Preview Capsule

Pirates (23-28) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (31-21)

Monday: RHP Trevor Williams (2-3, 5.93) vs. RHP Randall Delgado (1-0, 3.82), 4:05 p.m.

Tuesday: RHP Ivan Nova (5-3, 2.83) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (4-3, 3.45), 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-5, 6.29) vs. RHP Zack Godley (1-1, 1.99), 12:35 p.m.

NOTES: The Pirates are in last place in the National League Central, 4 ½ games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. … The Diamondbacks are in the third place in the NL West, two games behind the division-leading Colorado Rockies. … The Pirates lost two of three to the New York Mets over the weekend. … The Diamondbacks have lost two games in a row following a five-game winning streak. … Pirates 2B Josh Harrison is on a 10-game hitting streak, going 17-for-44 (.386) with two doubles, four walks and five strikeouts. … Diamondbacks C Chris Iannetta is 8-for-28 (.286) in his last eight games with two doubles, three home runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. … Williams and Nova are both 1-0 against the Diamondbacks in their careers while Kuhl has never faced them. … Delgado is 0-1 against the Pirates in his career while Ray is 0-2 and Godley has no decisions.

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Perrotto: Frazier Becoming the Pirates’ Hit Man

Things have changed dramatically for Adam Frazier in two weeks.

The Pittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder has gone from a being a super utility player to the regular left fielder and leadoff hitter. The 25-year-old has made such an impact during the Pirates’ stretch of eight wins in their last 12 games that he is drawing high praise from teammate David Freese.

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Pirates-Mets Preview Capsule

Pirates (22-26) vs. New York Mets (19-26)

Site: PNC Park

Friday: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-4, 5.85) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (3-1, 3.56), 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: RHP Gerrit Cole (2-5, 3.36) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (3-2, 3.74), 7:15 p.m.

Sunday: RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-3, 6.69) vs. RHP Matt Harvey (3-3, 5.36), 8:08 p.m.

NOTES: The Pirates are in last place in the National League Central, four games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs. … The Mets are in third place in the National League East, 8 ½ games behind the first-place Washington Nationals. … The Pirates have won two games in a row and eight of their last 12. … The Mets have lost two games in a row and 10 of their last 13. … The teams are meeting for the first time this season after splitting six games last year. The Pirates are 18-8 against the Mets since the start of the 2013 season. … Pirates LF Adam Frazier is 20-for-47 (.426) with two doubles, two home runs, nine walks and six strikeouts in his last 12 games. … Mets LF Michael Conforto is on a seven-game hitting streak, going 11-for-26 (.423) with two doubles, four home runs, six walks and 11 strikeouts. … Cole is 1-2 against the Mets in his career while Kuhl and Glasnow have never faced them. … deGrom is 0-2 against the Pirates, Harvey is 0-1 and Wheeler has never faced them.

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Perrotto: Gifted Youngster Bell Showing Power Potential

Josh Bell did not drop by the maternity ward of Allegheny General Hospital to deliver gifts and wave to new-born Pirates’ fans Thursday after helping power his team to a 10-4 victory over the Washington Nationals earlier in the afternoon at PNC Park.

The rookie switch-hitting first baseman is shown doing just that on an AGH commercial that airs during Pirates’ game telecasts on ROOT Sports. It’s a cute spot, though Bell hasn’t seen it yet.

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Perrotto: Pirates’ Inability to Field Three Outfielders is Embarrassing

PITTSBURGH — In the latest bit of Pirates’ bad news, right fielder Gregory Polanco was placed on the 10-day disabled list prior to Wednesday night’s 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.

Polanco being sidelined by a strained right hamstring means only one of the three members of the Pirates’ celebrated outfield is on the active roster. That is Andrew McCutchen, who is hitting just .214 with six home runs and a .679 OPS in 38 games even after going 2-for-4 with a two-run single Wednesday.

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Perrotto: Even In Decline, McCutchen Deserves More Respect

PITTSBURGH — The move, for the most part, went unnoticed.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a double switch at the start of the eighth inning Tuesday night, bringing in left-hander Wade LeBlanc in to pitch and rookie Jose Osuna in to play left field.

Hurdle also shifted Adam Frazier from left field to center field and removed center fielder Andrew McCutchen from the game. The score was just 6-4 at the time in a game the Pirates would go on to lose 8-4 to the Washington Nationals.

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Perrotto: McCutchen, Watson Ideal Fits for Trade With Nationals

The Washington Nationals have the best record in the National League as they get set to make their lone visit to PNC Park this season.

Though the Nationals are 24-13 going into the three-game series against the Pirates that begins Tuesday night, they are not a perfect team. Washington has yet to settle on a closer six weeks into the season and center fielder/leadoff hitter Adam Eaton sustained a season-ending knee injury last month.

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