San Francisco @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2015 ) San Francisco 0, Pittsburgh 4

San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner seeks to become the second pitcher in the majors to 15 wins when he takes the mound Friday against the host Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a four-game series. The Pirates have won three in a row and seven of their last eight contests to pull within 4 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.

Bumgarner is riding a three-start winning streak and is coming off back-to-back complete games in which he allowed one run while striking out 26. Outfielder Marlon Byrd, acquired from Cincinnati on Thursday, is expected to be in the lineup and provide some punch to a Giants lineup that has produced a total of six runs during a 1-3 start to their current seven-game road trip. Pittsburgh has won 18 of its last 22 at home and owns an 18-3 record against NL West opponents this season. Left-hander Jeff Locke, who has one win in his last seven starts, gets the nod opposite Bumgarner.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (14-6, 2.98 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (6-7, 4.31)

Bumgarner matched his career high with 14 strikeouts in a three-hit shutout of Washington last time out and joined Hall of Famer Juan Marichal as the only San Francisco pitchers to hit a homer while tossing a shutout and striking out at least 10. Bumgarner is 5-1 since the All-Star break, allowing one run or less in each of the victories. He has not been able to stymie the Pirates, posting a 1-3 record and 3.24 ERA in four starts.

Locke did not factor in the decision last time out after limiting the New York Mets to one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, halting a string of six straight starts in which he gave up at least three runs. Pitching deep into games continues to be a problem for Locke, who has failed to make it through the sixth inning in his last five turns. He has struggled in both starts against the Giants, giving up nine runs over 9 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Byrd hit 19 homers for the Reds but was 5-for-33 without a blast in his last 10 games.

2. Giants SS Brandon Crawford was hitless in the series opener, halting his career-best 13-game hitting streak.

3. Pirates LF Starling Marte is 9-for-23 during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Pirates 1