Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 1, Philadelphia 2

The Pittsburgh Pirates capped an impressive homestand by cooling off one of baseball's hottest teams, taking three of four from the Atlanta Braves. Winners of seven of nine, the Pirates will look to continue that success away from PNC Park when they kick off a 10-game road trip with a four-game set at the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. The Pirates won series against division rivals Cincinnati and St. Louis before before winning the final three vs. Atlanta.

The Phillies were on the verge of their worst 19-game start in 11 years before pushing across five runs in their final two at-bats to salvage a split of a four-game series with the Cardinals. Philadelphia is starting to show signs of snapping out of an offensive funk. After failing to score more than three runs in seven consecutive games, the Phillies amassed eight runs Friday and put up seven more in the series finale against St. Louis.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (1-2, 2.63 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (NR)

Burnett has pitched like an ace, even if his record is not indicative of that. He is coming off an overpowering performance against the Cardinals last time out, allowing one hit and striking out eight and not walking a batter in seven scoreless innings. Burnett has yielded only four runs on 11 hits in his last three outings, fanning 25 in 18 1/3 innings. He is 6-9 with a 5.06 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts) against the Phillies.

Pettibone is receiving a surprising promotion from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make his major-league debut. He has had a pair of rocky outings in his first two starts, giving up 12 runs and compiling a 9.64 ERA. Pettibone made 26 starts in the minors last year and had a 3.10 ERA. "He has good stuff," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's not going to overpower people. He has to have location and command."

WALK-OFFS

1. Burnett has held Ryan Howard to 3-for-14, but all three hits have left the ballpark.

2. Pittsburgh won four of seven meetings last year, including two of four in Philadelphia.

3. Pettibone, 22, will be youngest Phillies pitcher to start a game in six years (Fabio Castro, 2007).

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Phillies 2