Players to Watch: Diamondbacks vs. Pirates

Apr 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches to Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun (left) during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks continue their current eight-game homestand with a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting Friday night in Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks are coming of off a two-game series with the Texas Rangers, which they split. The Pirates are coming off of a split series as well, a four-game set against the Chicago Cubs.

Both teams come in hovering right around the .500 mark and both are looking to make up ground in their respective divisions. So who should we be paying attention to in this series? Let’s take a look.