Pittsburgh has won 4 in a row and 5 of their last 6 games.
Jeff Samardzija takes the hill for the Giants for his fifth start of the year in this contest. He is 1-2 with a 6.62 ERA, a 1.811 WHIP, 13 walks and 15 strikeouts over 17.2 innings of work this season. Samardzija took the loss in his last start, which came Monday against the Phillies. He lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a game the Giants lost 11-0. Samardzija is 0-2 with a 9.24 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, nine walks and 11 strikeouts over 12.2 innings in his last three starts.

The Pirates' 25-year-old righty Chad Kuhl has always had the overpowering fastball, but now he has so much confidence in his curveball and change-up. Being able to throw his off-speed stuff in hitter's counts has made him so much more effective. I'm backing the Pirates here on Saturday.