The Pittsburgh Pirates will be glad to be back home to PNC Park following a disappointing 2-5 road trip. They host the Los Angeles Angels for the opener of a three-game series Friday night, and I think the Pirates will come out ahead in this interleague battle.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Pirates hand the ball to Francisco Liriano (4-4, 4.63). The left-hander is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in four home starts this season while limiting the opposition to a .187 batting average. He has held Angels slugger Albert Pujols to one hit in 15 at bats in previous match-ups. The Angels counter with Jered Weaver (4-4, 5.40 ERA) who is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in four road starts this year. Weaver has struggled with the long ball in recent starts surrendering seven in his past four outings.

2. Situational - The Halos are 3-13 in their last 16 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter and 3-10 in Weaver's last 13 road starts. The Pirates are 15-2 in Liriano's last 17 home starts.

3. X-Factor - David Freese spent 2014-2015 with Weaver at Los Angeles, but he's 4-for-6 in the match-up. Freese is 9-for-24 with a pair of doubles and a homer over the past seven days.

Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8*)