Pirates Give Oneil Cruz New Job During Hot Streak

Cruz has struggled so far against the Diamondbacks, with no hits in eight at-bats and two strikeouts, so allowing him to focus entirely on hitting will give the Pirates the lift they need, as they've scored jut two runs in the past three games.

He did score one of those two runs, with an RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth inning, the go-ahead run in the 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on May 3.

Cruz had a strong series vs. the Reds, with five hits in 15 at-bats and two RBI, as the Pirates earned a big sweep over their NL Central divisional rival.

If he can provide the hits the Pirates need in this one, especially going up against a strong pitcher in Diamondbacks right-handed starter Zac Gallen, the Pirates will earn another important road series victory and stay in the competitive NL Central.

How the Rest of Pirates Lineup Looks Vs. Diamondbacks

The Pirates are going entirely left-handed vs. Gallen for their first five hitters, with Lowe second behind Cruz, Reynolds hitting third, O'Hearn hitting fourth and then first baseman Spencer Horwitz in fifth.

Pittsburgh then has their right-handed batters following, with shortstop Konnor Griffin batting sixth, third baseman Jared Triolo batting seventh, Mangum hitting eighth and catcher Joey Bart hitting ninth.

Triolo makes his second start this series and second since coming back from a patellar tendon injury, which sidelined him almost a month.

Bart will also make his second start in three games for the Pirates, where he and right-handed starter Mitch Keller will try and shut down the Diamondbacks lineup.