Houston @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 3, Houston 2

The Houston Astros make their first trip to a National League park as an American League team when they open a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Friday. Although Houston remains the worst team in the AL in its first season in the junior circuit, it actually enters this one on a bit of a high note after one of its more dramatic wins Wednesday in Detroit.

The usually punchless Astros got two runs in the top of the ninth and held on when Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera flew to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded to end a 7-5 game. The Pirates also begin the set with momentum after winning their third straight to finish a four-game series with Milwaukee on Thursday. Travis Snider had three RBIs and Francisco Liriano won his second straight game since coming off the disabled list in a 7-1 victory to end the set.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (1-1, 8.36 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.28)

Lyles has an unsightly ERA in three starts this year, and his numbers against Pittsburgh are roughly the same. He is 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates. Four of those outings came in 2012, when the 22-year-old allowed 29 hits in 18 2/3 innings. However, Lyles has 31 strikeouts and just three walks in 24 1/3 career frames in the matchups, meaning that Pittsburgh has really made its hits count. After giving up eight runs in four innings against Texas on Sunday, the right-hander will be making his first road start of the season. He is 2-11 with a 6.14 mark in his career away from home.

Gomez left his last start against the New York Mets after five innings with calf tightness. He threw just 65 pitches, allowing a run and two hits. But the 25-year-old was deemed fine to make what will be his fourth straight start after five appearances out of the bullpen for the Pirates. Gomez has yet to allow a run in 9 2/3 innings at home this year. However, he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 frames in his only appearance against Houston last June 23 at Minute Maid Park. Opponents are hitting only .204 against Gomez in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 2B Jose Altuve is expected to be activated from the bereavement list Saturday.

2. Snider homered Thursday for the first time since Aug. 10. It was a blast that measured 458 feet.

3. Pittsburgh is 18-7 in its last 25 games against Houston at PNC Park.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Astros 3