The week ahead: Pirates head west to face Diamondbacks, Padres

at Diamondbacks

8:10 p.m. Monday (SN PIT)

9:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT)

3:40 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT)

• Aside from the historically inept Colorado Rockies, the NL West is among the most competitive divisions in baseball. The Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to keep pace with the Padres, Giants and Dodgers. Leading his club in those efforts is 24-year-old outfielder Corbin Carroll, now in his fourth campaign. The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year, Carroll is slashing .278/.352/.593 with 58 hits and 34 RBIs in 50 games. Carroll, whose career high in homers is 25 (over 155 games in 2023) has demonstrated a notable uptick in power so far this season, clubbing 15 home runs, which ranks tied for fifth in baseball. Last year, he hit 22 in 158 games. Carroll’s six triples are also tied for the major-league lead.

at Padres

9:40 p.m. Friday (SN PIT)

9:40 p.m. Saturday (SN PIT)

5:10 p.m. Sunday (SN PIT)

• Baseball fans in Pittsburgh could relate to a rough stretch that the Pirates’ upcoming opponent, the San Diego Padres, navigated. On May 21, the Padres were shelled by Toronto, 14-0, for their fifth straight loss. Over that five-game span, San Diego scored a total of three runs. Per OptaStats, they became the second MLB team (following the 1969 Padres) to score three or fewer runs, allow 30 or more runs, allow 10-plus home runs and commit five or more errors in a five-game span.