Tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-46) and Pittsburgh Pirates (53-47) take the field at PNC Park for the rubber match of their three-game set. The game can be live streamed for free here. Los Angeles fans can hear all of the action on Fox Sports 570 while Pittsburgh fans can do the same on KDKA 93.7.
Los Angeles continues a nine-game road trip that it is currently 2-3 on while Pittsburgh closes out a six-game homestand it is 5-1 on thus far. The Dodgers took the opening game of this set 5-2 on Monday while the Pirates bounced back Tuesday with a 12-7 victory.
Los Angeles enters play in second place in the National League West, a game behind the first place San Francisco Giants while Pittsburgh sits in third place in the NL Central, 2.5 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Dan Haren (8-7, 4.30 ERA) toes the rubber for the Dodgers while the Pirates counter with Francisco Liriano, who is 1-7 with a 4.43 ERA.
Pirates first baseman Ike Davis has been known to be a second-half player and he is hoping his 3-for-5 night on Tuesday in his first start since the All-Star break will be a sign of him breaking out.
"There are players who are more cognizant of numbers than others," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told MLB.com. "That can give you a feeling of confidence, knowing, 'I've been in this position before and have been able to pull myself through it. I have experience doing it, I can pull it off again.'"
Since being traded from the New York Mets, Davis is hitting .243/.354/.358 with the Pirates along with five homers and 25 RBI.
The Dodgers are hoping that Haren will shut down Davis and the Pirates, and manager Don Mattingly believes Haren has been a solid fifth starter.
"I think Dan's been fine," Mattingly said via MLB.com. "Look at his body of work as a fifth starter, it's been pretty good."
Los Angeles' lineup has been bolstered by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is batting .259 with a team-best 15 homers and ranks tied for second in the NL with 65 RBI. Outfielder Yasiel Puig ranks fourth in the NL in on-base percentage (.396) and leads the Dodgers in batting average (.308) while second baseman Dee Gordon leads the MLB in stolen bases (45) and triples (nine).
Pittsburgh's' lineup has been anchored by outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who ranks second in the NL in total bases (208), on-base percentage (.419) and OPS (.976) and third in batting average (,319), slugging percentage (.558) and hits (119). McCutchen also ranks fourth with 62 RBI and 28 doubles while leading the Pirates with 17 homers.
Pirates outfielder Starling Marte is fifth in the NL with 21 stolen bases.
The Dodgers and Pirates close out their three-game set when they take the field for the rubber match tonight at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
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