Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks (17-11).

Site: Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix.

Times: 9:40 p.m. today, tomorrow and Saturday, 4:40 p.m. Sunday.

TV, radio: All games on FSN Pittsburgh, KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network.

Starting matchups: LHP Dave Williams (1-3, 4.76 ERA) vs. LHP Shawn Estes (2-3, 3.88), LHP Oliver Perez (1-3, 7.11) vs. RHP Javier Vazquez (3-2, 5.11), RHP Josh Fogg (1-2, 5.24) vs. RHP Russ Ortiz (2-1, 5.08), RHP Kip Wells (2-3, 4.91) vs. LHP Brad Halsey (2-0, 3.09).

Season series: First meeting. The Pirates won the series last year, 4-2.

Three things you should know about the Diamondbacks: 1. Not many find Arizona's hangar-looking stadium to be charming, but the home team appreciates it. The Diamondbacks are 11-4 in Phoenix, a mark that is among the best in the majors. They are coming off a 2-1 series with the Giants. 2. No one is swinging a bigger bat than cleanup-hitting 3B Troy Glaus, a free-agent signing. He has eight home runs and 20 RBIs. He also has struck out 23 times, though. 3. Closer Brandon Lyon, acquired by the Pirates in 2003 but returned to the Red Sox because of an injury, leads the majors with 11 saves in 12 chances.

The Pirates' key to success: Keep Luis Gonzalez quiet. When he makes things happen from the No. 3 spot, the Diamondbacks will roll. An encouraging statistic: Gonzalez has a career average of .230 against the Pirates' current 12 pitchers, with only two home runs in 87 at-bats.

The intangible: Two more left-handers, Estes and the promising Halsey, will face the Pirates. That does not bode well. The Pirates are 2-6 when a left-hander starts this season. Overall against left-handed pitching, they are hitting .226 with four home runs.

On deck: The 10-game road trip concludes with three in San Francisco.