Nova (11-13) allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters through five innings during Sunday's loss to St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

After having his last start skipped, this wasn't an encouraging return to the mound, and Nova has now allowed 20 runs through 18.2 innings over his past four starts. His 4.25 ERA and 1.27 WHIP are still respectable numbers, but with his poor current form and underwhelming 6.3 K/9 in mind, Nova's fantasy value is trending in the wrong direction. He projects to make his next start on the road against the Reds.

Nova will toss a side session Thursday, and remains in line to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals, MLB.com's Adam Berry reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nova's latest outing was skipped, as Steven Brault took his place against the Cubs on Tuesday. The right-hander has been in the midst of a constant struggle on the mound, allowing 12 earned runs over his last three starts, which latest a combined 13.2 innings. If all goes well during Thursday's session, the club will likely announce that Nova is the starter for Sunday's series finale.

Nova's projected start Tuesday against the Cubs will be skipped while Steven Brault takes his place, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

There has yet to be word on whether this will be a one-time deal or if Nova has lost favor in the rotation following another poor start Wednesday. The right-hander has posted a 6.64 ERA since July 23, and only lasted three innings during his latest outing against the Cubs. With a rematch against Chicago on the radar for next week, manager Clint Hurdle decided to give Brault a turn instead of watching Nova try to bounce back against the Pirates' division rival.

Nova (11-12) gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk over just three innings Wednesday, suffering the loss in a 17-3 blowout at the hands of the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He was fortunate to get the hook early and have his bullpen give up most of the runs, but there are no positives to be gleaned from this start for Nova. The veteran righty has now been bombarded for 38 runs (31 earned) over 42 innings spanning his last eight starts, a stretch in which he's given up 10 homers and managed to throw four wild pitches. He'll draw the Cubs again on Tuesday, and it's not advisable to bet on a change of fortune.

Nova (11-11) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks over five innings while striking out six.

EDGE Analysis

After steaming into the All-Star break with a 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, Nova has been hit hard in eight second-half starts, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. His 42:12 K:BB in 45 innings over that stretch is still solid, so there's been some bad BABIP luck involved, but a 2.0 HR/9 is the primary culprit. Things won't get much easier for the right-hander in his next outing Wednesday on the road against the Cubs.

Nova (11-10) came away with a 6-3 win Sunday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits across 5.2 innings against the Cardinals. He didn't issue a walk and struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Nova's performance in the Little League Classic in front of around 3,000 fans wasn't his best, but he pitched well enough to get back above .500 on the season. The big right-hander continues to maintain an ERA (3.81) and WHIP (1.22) slightly better than his career marks of 4.21 and 1.34 through 25 starts this season, as he continues to hold down the No. 3 spot in the Pirates' rotation behind Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon.

Nova (10-10) fell to the Brewers on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks over six innings while striking out four.

EDGE Analysis

It was Nova's 16th quality start of the season, but a lack of run support and a Josh Bell throwing error combined to hand the right-hander his fourth straight losing decision. He'll carry a 3.77 ERA into his next outing Sunday at home against the Cardinals.

Nova (10-9) was rocked for six runs on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Nova never had a chance to win this one, as opposing starter Justin Verlander twirled eight innings on one-hit ball. The pitchers traded shutout frames in the third through sixth innings after Nova surrendered three runs in the first two, but a bases-clearing triple by Nick Castellanos in the seventh blew the game open while chasing Pittsburgh's starter. Nova has been unable to work deep into games of late, lasting fewer than seven innings in each of his past eight starts after throwing at least that many in eight of his first 15 appearances. Monday's day off will give him an extra day of rest prior to his next start Tuesday Milwaukee.

Nova allowed four runs, one of which was earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings, but received no decision Friday against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the unearned runs, Nova left the contest with a 4-2 deficit, but the offense tied the game after his departure, taking him off the hook for a potential loss. For the third game in a row, he's failed to record a quality start, and his ERA has risen 0.83 since June 11, so despite solid overall numbers, he's been trending downward lately. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Tigers.

Nova (10-8) gave up four runs on eight hits despite striking out six over five innings in a loss Saturday against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Nova could pin his last start on Coors Field. No such luck Saturday at Petco Park, where he faced one of the league's worst offenses in one of the league's best parks for pitchers. Over his past eight starts, Nova now has a 5.48 ERA and has allowed 11 home runs, including Manuel Margot's solo shot off Nova in the fifth inning Saturday. The magic Nova had in the first half has waned awfully quickly.