Houston @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2013 ) Houston 4, Pittsburgh 5

With four straight wins and a reminder as to how much their opponent is struggling, the Pittsburgh Pirates have to feel pretty good about themselves entering a Saturday night matchup with the Houston Astros. Pittsburgh trailed by three runs midway through Friday's series opener before rallying to tie it in the eighth inning and then scoring the winning run as two Astros collided in right field trying to catch a pop fly in the ninth.

The Pirates improved to 5-15 when trailing after seven innings and picked up their 14th home win, which is second-best in the National League. The gaffe in the ninth, which accounted for one of the five errors committed in a sloppy affair, gave Houston its seventh loss in eight games and perhaps one of its worst setbacks of a difficult season. The Astros were in prime position to win their second straight for just the fourth time all season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (0-2, 6.67 ERA) vs. Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (3-4, 2.73)

Bedard has never faced the Pirates but is quite familiar with PNC Park after spending last season with Pittsburgh. He pitched well at PNC Park during the year, posting a 3.26 ERA and limiting opponents to a measly .205 average in 12 starts at home. After lasting an average of just over three innings in his first five starts this year, Bedard went a season-high five against Texas on May 11. He surrendered two runs on four hits and struck out seven while issuing only one walk.

Burnett has lost two straight decisions - both at home - after winning three straight. However, he has mostly been the victim of poor run support, lasting seven innings in each of his last three outings after doing so just once in his first six. The National League's leader in strikeouts with 72, Burnett fanned a season-low six while giving up a campaign-high four runs (three earned) in a 5-1 loss to Milwaukee on Monday. The 36-year-old, who will be making the 350th start of his career, is 4-5 with a 4.54 ERA in his career against Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 1B/DH Carlos Pena is 6-for-37 with 14 strikeouts against Burnett.

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

3. Pittsburgh has won 19 of the last 26 meetings at PNC Park.

PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Astros 3