Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 23, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 0

When Philadelphia's Roy Halladay pitched poorly in spring training and was ineffective in his first two regular-season starts, some wondered if it was the beginning of the end after his injury-plagued 11-win season of 2012. The 35-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner has solved his issues with a 1.80 ERA and two wins in his last two starts. Halladay will also try to continue his mastery over Pittsburgh when the Phillies host the Pirates on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh will counter with Wandy Rodriguez, who has been nearly unhittable in three starts this season despite missing a turn because of a hamstring injury. The Pirates, who have won 10 of their last 14 games after a 1-5 start, prevailed 2-0 on Tuesday to even the four-game series. Pittsburgh's offense got a lift from Brandon Inge, who delivered an RBI double in his second at-bat in a Pirates uniform after coming off the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (2-0, 0.56 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Roy Halladay (2-2, 6.04)

Rodriguez has allowed five hits and one walk in 16 innings for a microscopic 0.38 WHIP and has 11 strikeouts. The 34-year-old Dominican Republic native allowed one hit in seven innings in Pittsburgh's 6-0 victory Thursday - his first start in 11 days. Rodriguez has struggled at Citizen's Bank Park with a 7.11 ERA in four appearances (two starts) covering 12 2/3 innings. Jimmy Rollins is 6-for-15 with a homer while Ryan Howard has also taken Rodriguez deep.

Halladay allowed two hits against St. Louis - both solo home runs - in seven innings in Philadelphia's 8-2 victory Friday, which followed his 200th career win April 14 in Miami. The 35-year-old Denver native is 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in six career starts against Pittsburgh, including a 1-0 victory on Opening Day last season when he yielded two hits in eight innings. Pittsburgh's roster is batting .181 against him, with Andrew McCutchen 1-for-10 with four strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia has scored three runs or fewer in 13 of its 21 games and has been shut out three times while hitting .248.

2. The Pirates had a 41 1/3-inning errorless streak snapped Tuesday when CF Starling Marte dropped Ben Revere's liner in the second inning.

3. Phillies 3B Michael Young went 1-for-3 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Pirates 2