PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates continue their four-game series Thursday evening at PNC Park, with the playoffs inching closer for two teams heading in opposite directions. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. under a forecast of 84 degrees and rain. The Braves (52-38) enter having lost four of their past six, while the Pirates (47-45) have won four of their past six to hover near .500. Atlanta dropped the series opener 12-4 on Tuesday, a game in which center fielder Michael Harris II went 2 for 5. Harris has been one of the Braves’ most consistent hitters, batting .333 (12 for 36) over his past 10 games with two home runs and 10 RBIs. In that stretch, he has multiple hits in six contests, including a 3-for-5 performance with a homer and two RBIs July 4 against the Mets. The Braves rebounded Wednesday with a 2-0 shutout of the Pirates, evening the series at one game apiece. Pittsburgh first baseman Ryan O’Hearn delivered one of the most dominant individual performances of the major league season Tuesday, going 4 for 5 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in the 12-4 victory. Over his past nine games, O’Hearn is batting .349 (15 for 43) with five homers and 16 RBIs. His 10-RBI game matched a Pirates franchise record. The head-to-head series has been lopsided in recent meetings. Pittsburgh won two of three at Atlanta in early June, then took Tuesday’s blowout before the Braves’ Wednesday shutout. Pittsburgh’s Interstat game simulator projects a 6-3 Pirates victory Thursday. Both teams turn the page to weekend series at home Friday. Atlanta travels to St. Louis for a three-game set against the Cardinals, while Pittsburgh hosts the Milwaukee Brewers. For the Braves, a strong showing from Harris and the top of the lineup will be critical against a Pirates bullpen that has been effective in high-leverage spots. Pittsburgh will look to O’Hearn to continue his torrid stretch and give the home crowd an early upper hand. Thursday’s game marks the first of two evening contests in the series, with the finale scheduled for Friday afternoon before both clubs hit the road.