Pittsburgh @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2012 ) Arizona 6, Pittsburgh 3

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to maintain their winning streak Monday when they host the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series. The Diamondbacks completed their first-ever sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday and have won four in a row overall – two in extra innings – while the Pirates have dropped four straight, scoring four runs in the process. Arizona has pushed across 30 runs in its last four games, the last two on a two-run homer by Eric Hinske in the top of the 11th of Sunday’s 8-7 victory in Milwaukee.

Diamondbacks leadoff hitter Gerardo Parra, best known for becoming the 100th major league player to homer in his first career at-bat, has been on a tear to start this season. He has 12 hits in his first 30 at-bats for 21 total bases. Four other regulars are hitting better than .300 for Arizona. The Pirates don’t have anyone hitting better than .261. They came into Sunday’s game against the Dodgers hitting .117 and collected four hits in 31 at-bats in the 6-2 loss. To put that in perspective, major league pitchers batted .130 in 2012.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00) vs. Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (0-1, 4.76)

The lone game the Pirates won this season came when Rodriguez made the start Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed two hits and no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings and the bullpen maintained the shutout in the 3-0 victory. Rodriguez has a history of starting the season strong, owning a 2.86 ERA in April compared to a lifetime ERA of 4.01. He has struggled in his career against the Diamondbacks, however, dropping six of nine decisions with a 5.48 ERA.

Cahill was the losing pitcher in Arizona’s only loss this season, getting tagged for five hits and three earned runs in a 6-1 defeat Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. His only appearance against the Pirates came in 2010, when he threw 7 2/3 shutout innings while a member of the Oakland Athletics. Cahill has struggled to duplicate his 2010 numbers, when he finished 18-8. His 2.97 ERA that season ranked among the top five in the American League.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Pirates are off to their worst start since 2006, when they lost their first six games.

2. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez and 2B Neil Walker are a combined 0-for-28 during the four-game losing streak.

3. The Diamondbacks have 71 hits through the first six games, surpassing the previous high of 66 in 2006.

PREDICTION: Pirates 2, Diamondbacks 1