Scouting Report

Series: Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, three games at Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix.

Times: 9:35 p.m. today, tomorrow and Wednesday.

TV, radio: All games on Fox Sports Net; all games on KDKA-AM (1020) and the Pirates Radio Network.

Probable starters: LHP Sean Burnett (5-4, 4.31 ERA), RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-9, 6.75 ERA) and RHP Kip Wells (5-7, 4.50 ERA) for the Pirates; RHP Brandon Webb (4-14, 3.96 ERA), RHP Lance Cormier (1-4, 10.97 ERA) and LHP Casey Fossum (2-12, 7.64 ERA) for the Diamondbacks.

Pirates: First meeting against Diamondbacks this season. Arizona visits PNC Park next week. ... Were 3-3 against Arizona last season, including 2-1 in Phoenix. ... Teams haven't met since May 18 of last season. ... The league is hitting .289 against Burnett. Arizona is 8-30 when a left-hander starts against it. ... Vogelsong has made three appearances against Arizona, allowing five earned runs in seven innings. In nine road starts this season, Vogelsong is 2-4 with a 6.55 ERA. ... Wells is coming off his briefest appearance since May 11. Friday night, Colorado battered him for 11 hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Wells against Arizona lifetime is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts.

Diamondbacks: Are 7-32 since former Pirates INF Al Pedrique replaced Bob Brenly as manager. ... Hurt badly by injuries this season. Currently have 14 players on the disabled list. Ten aren't expected to return this season. ... Webb, a strong contender for last season's rookie of the year award when he was 10-9 with a 2.84 ERA, hasn't fared as well this year. In 11 starts at home this season, Webb is 3-7 with a 3.67 ERA. He has two wins since April. Ty Wigginton lifetime against Webb is 1 for 7 with three strikeouts.

On deck: Pirates begin a five-game series in St. Louis Thursday night; Diamondbacks begin a three-game series with Cincinnati Friday night.

Notebook

Daryle Ward should return to the Pirates' starting lineup tonight in Phoenix because RHP Brandon Webb is scheduled to start for Arizona. "We need all the left-handed power we can get," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Left-handed bats are a plus -- particularly in [PNC Park]."

Right-handed power at PNC Park wouldn't hurt, either. That's why first baseman Brad Eldred is intriguing. Eldred, 24, hit 28 home runs with Class A Hickory in 2003, then hit 21 more in 335 at-bats with Class A Lynchburg this season before being promoted to Class AA Altoona 3 1/2 weeks ago. In 56 at-bats with the Curve, Eldred had six home runs -- and 19 RBIs -- through Saturday. The Pirates might send Eldred to their Instructional League this fall so he can get more individual attention from Jeff Manto and Doug Mansolino, the Pirates' roving hitting coordinator and roving infield coordinator, respectively.

Paul Maholm, a left-hander who was the Pirates' No. 1 draft pick last year, returned to the mound Saturday night with Hickory. Maholm, struck in his face by a line drive while pitching for Lynchburg in mid-May, allowed four hits, three walks and three earned runs in four innings. "We're very pleased with how he's able to come back," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "It's excellent news [because] he gives you the feel of being a major-league pitcher. With the injury he had -- getting hit in the face -- it takes a little time." It's possible Maholm will finish this season with Hickory, which should be a playoff team.

Littlefield yesterday looked ahead to the possible makeup of the Pirates' bullpen next season but didn't mention closer Jose Mesa. He did mention left-handers John Grabow, Mike Johnston and Mike Gonzalez and right-handers Salomon Torres and Brian Meadows as candidates. "After that, we really don't know for sure," Littlefield said. If Mesa isn't back, will the Pirates' closer next season come from within the organization? "I'm not saying it couldn't happen internally," Littlefield said, "but [at present] we don't have enough confidence in our internal candidates."

Minor-League Report

NASHVILLE (55-65) lost a doubleheader to Memphis and has lost 11 of its past 12 games. In a 3-1 first-game loss, starter Nelson Figueroa (12-8, 4.19) pitched a three-hitter, allowing three walks. RF Andy Abad (.294) went 3 for 3 and was 5 for 7 in the doubleheader. In a 6-4 second-game loss, starter Justin Reid (4.29) allowed three hits, no walks and three runs in five innings. Pat Mahomes lost in relief, yielding three runs in the seventh inning. 2B Terry Shumpert hit his ninth home run.

ALTOONA (73-45) lost at Reading, 3-0. Starter Bobby Bradley (4-2, 3.19) allowed five hits, a walk and three runs in six innings. CF Nate McLouth (.324) hit his 32nd double.

LYNCHBURG (49-66) was rained out against Kinston.

HICKORY (72-45) lost to Charleston, 8-6. 1B Jon Benick (.327) had three hits, including two doubles and his 27th home run. 3B Mike Cockrell had two hits and an RBI.

WILLIAMSPORT (22-30) split a doubleheader at Hudson Valley. The Crosscutters won the first game, 4-1. Starter Kyle Bloom (2-3, 3.10) allowed two hits, three walks and a run and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. Dustin Craig got his sixth save. In a 4-2 second-game loss, starter Luis Munoz (2-2, 3.83) allowed 11 hits, no walks and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. SS Brian Bixler (.285) had three hits.

BRADENTON (24-19) was rained out.