Game 127: Rockies at Pirates

Probables: Jon Gray (0-0, 5.94) vs. Francisco Liriano (9-6, 3.23)
Preview:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201508...game_pk=415563
"Liriano rides hot streak into series vs. Rockies
By Jon Cooper / Special to MLB.com | + 3 COMMENTS
The Rockies and Pirates open a three-game weekend set at PNC Park on Friday night. Veteran left-hander Francisco Liriano (9-6, 3.23 ERA) takes the ball for Pittsburgh, while Colorado counters with rookie Jon Gray (0-0, 5.94).
Liriano has been one of the hottest pitchers in the National League over the past two months, as he carries a 10-start unbeaten streak during which he is 5-0. He hasn't lost since June 20. Liriano beat San Francisco at PNC Park on Sunday, allowing two runs (none earned) and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The 23-year-old Gray, Colorado's first pick in the 2013 Draft (No. 3 overall), will make his fifth Major League start and looks to bounce back from his shortest performance as a pro, going 1 2/3 innings last Friday in Coors Field against the Mets. Gray allowed seven runs (all earned) on eight hits, including a grand slam to Yoenis Cespedes, with a walk in a 14-9 loss.
"[His location] wasn't all that bad and our park was playing crazy, like it used to in the old days," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "I'm not too worried about Jonny Gray. He's handled himself very well so far. He's a lot more confident than I saw him in Spring Training. He's a lot more convicted to what he does. He's in a good place."
Things to know for this game
• Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, coming off a rare day off in the Wednesday series finale in Atlanta, has hit Liriano well in limited exposure. He is batting .500 (3-for-6), with a double. The rest of the Rockies are batting a combined .200 against the lefty (7-for-35), and no one has homered off him.
• Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has never faced Gray, but he's certainly faced and had success against Colorado pitching. He's hitting .351 with a .442 on-base percentage and a 1.091 OPS. McCutchen has five homers and 18 RBIs vs. the Rockies and has walked more times than he's struck out (17-15).
• The Rockies have gotten the better of Liriano over his career -- he is 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 21 1/3 innings -- but 10 of the 13 earned runs and 12 of the 22 hits came in 2 1/3 innings on Aug. 9, 2013, at Coors Field, when they beat him, 12-1. The Rockies do not have an earned run off him in his two starts as a Pirate at PNC Park, covering 12 innings.
Jon Cooper is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs."