RHP Ivan Nova made his seventh quality start Sunday, giving up three runs in six innings, although he did not get a decision when the bullpen could not hold a 4-3 lead. He entered the game receiving 2.4 runs of support per start, the third-lowest figure in the NL. He gave up two homers to Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt for the only runs he allowed. When Goldschmidt was walked in the 10th inning with runners on first and third and two outs ... "You have to," starter Ivan Nova said. "Good move right there."

RHP Ivan Nova, the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, makes his eighth start of the season Sunday. Nova, 3-3 with a 2.23 ERA, is receiving an average of 2.7 runs of support per start, the third-lowest figure in the NL. "He's been an absolute stabilizer," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's a craftsman. He's taken that next step. This guy has gone out since he touched the ball the first time here with intent, with purpose, with execution. He's given us big games when we've needed it. He's given us opportunities to win nine out of 10 times he's touched the ball." Nova is second in the NL in ERA and tied for fourth with six quality starts. He has 29 strikeouts and three walks in 48 1/3 innings.

RHP Ivan Nova delivered another solid outing but did not factor into the decision in the Pirates' loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. Nova allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. "We're talking about how much offense they've put up the last five games and he gives up two runs and seven hits," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I thought he still pitched very effectively." Nova is 3-3 with a 2.33 ERA.

RHP Ivan Nova, who was named National League pitcher of the month for April after posting a 1.50 ERA with two complete games, had his roughest outing of the season Thursday. Nova (3-3) didn't walk a batter Thursday, but the Reds got plenty of good swings off the 30-year-old right-hander, scoring four runs on 10 hits through six innings. Nova fanned five. "They have a really good lineup," said Nova, who also said his four-seamer and two-seamer were cutting more than normal. "I have to do something different the next time I face them. I thought I handled it well. I ended up going six innings. You want to give the team a chance to win and save the bullpen."

RHP Ivan Nova, who beat the Marlins on Saturday, has more complete games (five) than walks allowed (four) since the Pirates acquired him on Aug. 1, 2016. Unafraid to throw strikes, Nova's 1.04 WHIP since Aug. 1 is the fourth-best mark in the majors during that span.

RHP Ivan Nova pitched a three-hit shutout with no walks to beat the Marlins on Saturday night. It was the third career shutout for Nova (3-2), who did it twice for the New York Yankees in 2013. On Saturday, Nova allowed a double by Martin Prado and two singles. Nova, who struck out seven, lowered his ERA to 1.50, throwing a season-high 95 pitches. He has eight career complete games, including two this season. His control continues to be impressive, and that has been perhaps his biggest key. He has walked one batter in 27 innings this season.

RHP Ivan Nova walked his first batter of the season while making his fourth start. New York Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard is the only player to make four starts this season without a walk.

RHP Ivan Nova threw only 78 pitches in an eight-inning complete game on Monday night but came away as the losing pitcher. He allowed only two hits through the first six innings, but one was a home run by Kolten Wong. Nova also allowed three hits and a run in the seventh, recording 13 of his 24 outs on three pitches or less.

NEW YORK -- Jordan Montgomery took a shutout into the seventh inning, and Matt Holliday and Aaron Judge hit long home runs as the New York Yankees ran their winning streak to eight games with a 7-4 victory over Chicago White Sox on Monday night.Montgomery (1-0) allowed a three-run home run to Yolmer Sanchez in the seventh among seven hits in six-plus innings. The left-hander threw 88 pitches and helped the Yankees win eight straight for the first time since June 8-18, 2012.Holliday hit a 459-foot home run in a five-run third off Derek Holland (1-2), and Judge knocked the left-hander out with a 385-foot home run in the fifth. The Yankees (9-4) have their best 13-game start since 2010, and they improved to 7-0 at home for the first time since 1998.Red Sox 4, Rays 3BOSTON -- Steven Wright threw six innings of three-run ball, and Boston scored three runs in the second to beat Tampa Bay. Wright (1-1) allowed just one earned run, nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts.Andrew Benintendi was... [More]

RHP Ivan Nova (1-1, 2.25 ERA) makes his third start of the season and first-ever against the Cardinals on Monday as the Pirates travel to St. Louis. Nova's last start was a loss to the Reds last Wednesday after working 6.0 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits in Pittsburgh's 9-2 loss.

RHP Ivan Nova is slated to be the Pirates' starter for their home opener Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Nova, 30, went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 11 starts with the Pirates last season after being traded from the Yankees. He has made one prior start against the Braves, pitching seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a five-inning victory.

RHP Ivan Nova proved last season after coming over in a trade from the Yankees that he can provide some innings, averaging six per start, and he got right back to it in his season debut. He picked up the win, giving up one unearned run in six innings with four strikeouts and no walks. "He had to pitch today. Rolled up his sleeves and went to work," manager Clint Hurdle said.

BOSTON -- Rain put a damper on a hot start for the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, but the postponement may have come at a good time for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Non-stop rain in the forecast forced the teams to scrap the scheduled series finale at Fenway Park, which will now be played on April 13 at 2:05 p.m. ET."I just think with the number of common off-days without exceeding the consecutive number of days played, Thursday was the most logical," Red Sox manager John Farrell said on a conference call.For Pittsburgh (0-2), its opening week has not gone as planned -- particularly at the plate, where the Pirates are hitting just .173 through two games.On Wednesday, the Pirates mustered just five hits and failed to advance a runner past first base for the first time in at least 105 years when playing 12-plus innings.Sandy Leon hit a walk-off three-run homer in the 12th inning to end Pittsburgh's misery and secure a 3-0 win. Boston (2-0) also won 5-3 Monday on Opening Day.At the center of the Pirates'... [More]

There were a few surprises in training camp for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the biggest ones came before it started.Andrew McCutchen was not traded and moved from center field to right after a subpar season, and Pittsburgh was able to re-sign right-hander Ivan Nova to remain an important part of the starting rotation.Still, there are a lot of questions surrounding a club that missed the postseason last year after a three-year run of playoff appearances and plays in the National League Central Division with the defending Worlds Series champion Chicago Cubs and perennially strong St. Louis Cardinals.The most impactful news in March for the Pirates was the status of third baseman and power hitter Jung Ho Kang, who remained in South Korea and on the restricted list after a DUI arrest. It was unclear when or even if Kang would join the Pirates.David Freese looks to inherit third base with Kang missing. Freese is part of a movement in which manager Clint Hurdle is keen on having a lot of interchangeable... [More]

RHP Ivan Nova lost for the second game in a row after starting his Pirates career 5-0 since he was acquired from the New York Yankees on Aug. 1. In four innings, he gave up six runs (three earned) on eight hits. He also hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.

RHP Ivan Nova had a short outing Sunday against the Reds, lasting just three innings and giving up five runs, although one of them was unearned. He surrendered 10 hits, walked none and struck out two over 56 pitches. "I'm human," said Nova. "It's one of those days where you either have it or you don't. I wanted to keep fighting and give my team a chance to win the game, and I didn't do it. I felt good in the bullpen. I had faced them two times already. Give them some credit, too."

RHP Ivan Nova was brilliant again Tuesday night. Nova, who remains undefeated since joining Pittsburgh in August, struck out 11 in six innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking one. Nova has posted a 2.41 ERA in eight starts since being acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1.

RHP Ivan Nova was 2-for-16 with 13 strikeouts with the Pirates until he singled in the seventh inning. Nova was good enough on the mound, throwing a complete-game six-hitter, but he was embarrassed after striking out in his first three at-bats. "I didn't want to strike out any more because it looks bad," he said.

RHP Ivan Nova got a no-decision, giving up two runs on five hits through six innings, with six strikeouts and one walk. Pittsburgh had won in his first five starts since acquiring him. Nova got booed in the second when he put down a bunt and then barely jogged toward first. He would have been safe if he had run it out; catcher Martin Maldonado bobbled the ball in front of the plate. Nova said that was partly because he didn't want to test what had been a sore hamstring after his previous start, but mostly it was a mistake. "You don't want to push it too much," he said. "In that situation, I thought he caught the ball and he didn't. The fans didn't like that, but it wasn't that I didn't want to run. I thought he caught the ball. I never looked back. After that, I tested (the hamstring) a couple of times with a ground ball to home plate or covering a base. It was fine."

RHP Ivan Nova is expected to make his next start after soreness in his left hamstring forced him from Pittsburgh's game Sunday at Milwaukee after just six innings and 75 pitches. Nova only allowed a run on two hits and improved to 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA since joining the Pirates.