Pirates look to rebound with Locke taking the mound tonight

The Pittsburgh Pirates (35-23) coming off a 7-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves (35-22) Monday night, have now loss three of four games. A.J. Burnett (3-6, 3.22 ERA)) was roughed up, yielding six runs in five innings. Burnett allowed eight hits and three homers in the loss. The Pirates have lost five of Burnett’s last six starts.

Tonight’s pitching matchup features Pittsburgh’s Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.25 ERA) vs Atlanta’s Mike Minor (7-2, 2.48 ERA). Both have been bright spots for their respective teams.

Locke is 5th in the NL in ERA (2.25) and 5th in win percentage (.833). The Pirates have won Locke’s last four starts and the lefty enters tonight’s contest with a stretch of throwing 19 1/3 scoreless innings.

Locke’s worst start of the season came against Atlanta this season on April 18th when he allowed 3 home runs in a 6-4 Pirates loss.

Minor is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts vs the Pirates.