(Photo credit: Charles LeClaire)

On a quest for their first winning season since 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates face a serious challenge against one of the majors' best pitchers over the last two months.

Kansas City left-hander Noah Cameron looks to continue his recent success and help the visiting Royals (67-87) keep the Pirates (77-77) from a third straight victory Saturday night.

The Pirates haven't finished above .500 since posting an 82-79 record in 2018. They had dropped four of five games prior to recording a 7-4 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday and rallying to an 8-5 win over Kansas City in Friday's series opener.

Konnor Griffin had four hits with two RBIs, Oneil Cruz added three hits, Brandon Lowe clubbed his 32nd homer and Spencer Horwitz delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning Friday for Pittsburgh.

'We've had a lot of really good things happen this year for our team, and we've got to take the positives,' said Griffin, who is 9-for-24 with four RBIs in the last five games.

Lowe, who has homered in three of the last four contests, is batting .361 with eight RBIs over his last 10 games. He's 0-for-2 with a walk against Cameron (9-8, 3.84 ERA).

On July 19, Cameron was 5-8 with a 5.27 ERA. In 10 starts since, he is 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA.

Cameron has yielded one run over 12 innings of his last two starts. On Sunday at Boston, he allowed a solo homer and three others hits over six innings.

'He battles, that's probably his No. 1 characteristic,' Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. 'He's exceptionally competitive and he's been on a really good run here lately the way he throws the ball. He has a lot of confidence, and we have a lot of confidence in him.'

Cameron was solid in his only previous start versus Pittsburgh on July 7, 2025, giving up a two-run homer, two other hits, a walk and striking out seven over seven innings in a 9-3 win.

Kansas City, though, has lost each of Cameron's last three starts. The Royals are also 5-12 in their last 17 games.

Star Bobby Witt Jr. had a hit Friday against the Pirates but is 6-for-37 in the last 10 games. However, teammate Vinnie Pasquantino has homered in two of his last three games.

Meanwhile, Royals star Jac Caglianone was held out of Friday's lineup with a hand injury, apparently suffered off the field. He may not be available again for this contest.

'He hurt his hand during the game (Thursday night),' Quatraro told Royals.TV.

'It was in the dugout after one of the at-bats. ... It was my decision to not play him (Friday).'

Getting his first career look at the Royals, scheduled Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.28 ERA) is 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA in his last eight starts.

On Sunday, the right-hander allowed five hits and four walks but limited the damage to three runs over 5 1/3 innings of the Pirates' 4-3 road victory over the Chicago Cubs.

--Field Level Media