Brault hopes to repeat success as Pirates visit Marlins

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Steven Brault had a game plan -- and it worked.

On Friday night, Brault will face the host Miami Marlins when the teams open a three-game weekend series. Brault (2-1, 5.05 ERA) is coming off a strong performance in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching a career-best 6 1/3 innings while allowing just two runs.

"I used my four-seam fastball and my sinker," Brault said. "That was the plan of attack."

Brault, a 27-year-old native of California, played for NCAA Division II Regis University and was the Baltimore Orioles' 11th-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his major-league debut in 2016 and has a four-year record of 9-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 75 appearances, including 21 starts.

This will be his first time facing the Marlins, but, historically, June has been his best month (3.71 ERA in 11 appearances). Beyond that his ERA is similar as a starter (4.64) and a reliever (4.87) and at home (5.06) or on the road (4.50).

Brault will be opposed by Marlins right-hander Trevor Richards (3-6, 3.31). Over his past four starts, Richards is 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA, and it looks like he has his turned his season around at the perfect time.

That's because the Marlins, who have the worst record in the National League, have a rotation that appears to be the strength of the team.The rotation includes Jordan Yamamoto, who made his major-league debut on Wednesday, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Richards and the other young veterans in Miami's rotation surely took notice of Yamamoto, who could take someone's spot if he keeps this up beyond just one start.

Offensively, the Marlins are looking for more production from first baseman/right fielder Garrett Cooper, who on Wednesday hit his second grand slam of the year. He went 3-for-5 and fell a double short of becoming the first player in Marlins history to hit for the cycle.

"I'm not going to lie -- I was looking for that double," said Cooper, who struck out in the seventh and again in the eighth. "I swung a little too hard the last couple of at-bats."

The Marlins, however, placed third baseman/first baseman Martin Prado on the injured list on Thursday. He left Wednesday's game due to a pulled muscle in his right hamstring.

The Pirates, who lost 6-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, have dropped seven consecutive games. It is, so far at least, their second-worst skid of the season. They lost eight straight games in April.

A bright spot for Pittsburgh is Josh Bell, who leads the All-Star Game voting for National League first basemen. He is hitting .320 and leads the Pirates in homers (19) and RBIs (61).

The Pirates also are getting solid offense from third baseman Colin Moran, shortstop Kevin Newman, rookie left fielder Bryan Reynolds and center fielder Starling Marte. Outfielders Melky Cabrera and Gregory Polanco have also contributed.

In fact, Cabrera has increased his trade value, according to published reports, as the Pirates may look to dump salary before the July 31 trade deadline.

--Field Level Media