Pittsburgh @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2014 ) Pittsburgh 0, Baltimore 0

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 20-year postseason drought last year and their record in interleague play (15-5) was among the reasons why. Following consecutive rainouts on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pirates get a chance to snap out of a funk and reprise last season's interleague success when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday for a doubleheader. Losers of 13 of its last 17, Pittsburgh faces its first non-division opponent after 26 straight games versus National League Central foes.

The Pirates dominated American League opponents to the tune of a 2.23 ERA and a .199 batting average against in 2013 and face a struggling Baltimore offense that is averaging a league-worst 2.6 runs in Oriole Park at Camden Yards - 2.1 fewer than they did when they finished fourth in the majors in home scoring a season ago. The Orioles hope the return of All-Star third baseman Manny Machado from offseason knee surgery will provide a boost at the plate. Machado was 8-for-12 in a three-game minor-league rehab assignment over the weekend.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (3-1, 3.38)

Cumpton went seven strong innings but hurt himself in his only appearance this season, watching two of the three batters he hit score in a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on April 24. The 25-year-old Georgia native, who has not allowed more than three runs in any of his seven major-league starts, had a 20-inning scoreless streak dating to last year snapped against the Reds. Cumpton keeps the ball in the park, surrendering only one homer in 30 2/3 innings in 2013 while holding opposing batters to a .226 batting average.

Despite surrendering season highs in hits (nine), homers (three) and earned runs (seven) over 5 2/3 innings, Tillman earned the praise of manager Buck Showalter after last Wednesday’s 10-8 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. "In a lot of ways it might have been one of his best outings this year … he gave us some needed innings (after giving up six runs in the second inning)," Showalter told the team’s official website. Tillman will face Pittsburgh for the first time and try to improve on his 0-1 record and 4.68 ERA in six career interleague outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh has won nine consecutive interleague road contests.

2. Tillman is 0-1 despite a 0.69 ERA in two home starts, but 3-0 with a 5.21 ERA in three road outings.

3. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen batted .375 while 3B Pedro Alvarez hit .344 with six homers and 13 RBIs against the AL last year.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Pirates 3