The set-up: The The Pittsburgh Pirates open a four-game series in Arizona against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, after beginning the team's seven-game road trip by getting swept in three games at Dodger Stadium. Pittsburgh has matched its season-worst losing streak of four games and finds itself at 14-20, 5 1/2 games back in the NL Central, occupying last place. The Diamondbacks are coming off a split the two-game of a two-game IL series with the Tigers and the team's 19-16 start to the 2017 season is a welcome relief after going only 69-83 last year. Arizona halted a three-game slide with six extra-base hits (three HRs & three doubles) in Wednesday's 7-1 victory over Detroit.

The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (1-3 & 3.14 ERA) takes the mound for Pittsburgh and Zack Greinke (3-2 & 3.09 ERA) starts for Arizona. Cole has pitched well in his seven starts this season, with a solid ERA, excellent WHIP (1.09) and a 42-9 KW ratio over 43 innings. However, he's got just one win (Pirates are 3-4 in his starts). Cole is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four career starts against Arizona (Pirates are 3-1). Greinke comes in having won back-to-back decisions, including a victory over Colorado in his last outing, when he gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings. Like Cole, he has an excellent KW ratio in 2017, at 47-8 over 43 2/3 innings. Greinke is 6-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 career starts against Pittsburgh (teams are 7-3).

The pick: Arizona has played well at Chase Field in the early going of 2017 (13-6, plus-$716), averaging 6.32 RPG. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is just 6-13 (minus-$435) on the road, so far. Make Arizona an 8* play.