New York @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2013 ) NY Mets 2, Pittsburgh 4
The Pittsburgh Pirates are one victory shy of matching the first-half win total of the franchise's celebrated 1971 World Series champion contingent. The Pirates will vie for their fourth straight win - and 57th overall - on Sunday, when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting New York Mets. After posting an 11-inning triumph in the series opener, Pittsburgh rode All-Star Andrew McCutchen's stellar performance en route to a 4-2 victory on Saturday.
If the Pirates are looking to snap a tie with St. Louis atop the National League Central, they'll need to overcome the loss of Jeff Locke. The left-hander was scratched from Sunday's scheduled start and will not participate in Tuesday's All-Star Game due to lower back stiffness. Rookie right-hander Gerrit Cole will face the Mets, who had won four straight prior to this series.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.60 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (4-2, 3.68)
After turning around his season following a sluggish start, Gee put up a clunker in his last trip to the mound. The 27-year-old yielded five runs and issued as many walks over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus San Francisco on Tuesday. Gee owns a 2-0 career mark against Pittsburgh but settled for a no-decision after allowing one run in five frames on May 9.
Cole has tasted defeat in each of his last two outings after emerging victorious in his previous four. The 22-year-old allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, but suffered a hard-luck loss in a 2-1 setback to Oakland on Tuesday. Cole has yielded just two home runs in 36 2/3 innings pitched.
WALK-OFFS
1. McCutchen, who homered and added an RBI single on Saturday, has four multi-hit performances in his last seven contests. He has just three singles in 12 career at-bats versus Gee.
2. New York 3B David Wright saw his 12-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-for-5 performance on Saturday.
3. The Mets activated RHP Scott Atchison from the disabled list following Saturday's contest and shipped the versatile Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A Las Vegas.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Pirates 2