Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 3

The Philadelphia Phillies are beginning to right their ship in the potentially rough National League East waters, and the change of course has come from the Nos. 4 and 5 starting positions in the rotation. Philadelphia hopes its No. 1 - winless Cole Hamels - follows suit when it hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. The Phillies have won three of their last four after Monday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh behind 5 1/3 solid innings from Jonathan Pettibone, who was making his major-league debut.

The Phillies also need their offense to get going. They are hitting .253 with only 14 homers and part of the problem is slugger Ryan Howard, who is hitting .275 but has one home run in 69 at-bats. The Pirates have won seven of their last 10 games, but could also use more punch as they are batting .233 with 13 homers. Andrew McCutchen, who made a strong bid for NL MVP honors a year ago, is off to a slow start with a .257 average, two homers and a team-high 12 RBIs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, The Comcast Network (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (1-1, 5.17 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (0-2, 6.46)

With veterans Francisco Liriano (broken arm) and Charlie Morton (Tommy John elbow surgery) pitching at the Double-A level during their rehab assignments, the pressure is on Locke to perform well if he is to keep a spot in the rotation. The 25-year-old North Conway, N.H., native allowed four runs and three homers in his last outing, but was not tagged with the 6-4 loss against Atlanta on Thursday. Locke, who is 2-7 lifetime, has never faced the Phillies or any of their players.

Hamels is off to a slow start, but his last two outings are an indication he appears ready to win. Hamels allowed three runs and struck out eight in seven innings, but was not charged with the 4-3 loss versus St. Louis on Thursday. In his previous start, Hamels allowed one run in six innings (no-decision) in Philadelphia's 2-1 setback at Miami on April 13. Light-hitting Clint Barmes is 4-for-5 against Hamels with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies C Carlos Ruiz, who is eligible to return Sunday following a 25-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy, will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Clearwater on Tuesday. Ruiz hit .325 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs - all career highs - last season.

2. All of Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez's team-leading three home runs have come in the last five games.

3. Phillies 3B Michael Young has hit in 13 straight games and is hitting .366 during that span.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Pirates 2