Pittsburgh @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) Miami 0, Pittsburgh 3

The Pittsburgh Pirates have won four of five in their effort to plow ahead toward what could be their first playoff appearance since 1992. The Pirates look to stay hot when they visit the improving Miami Marlins for the first time this season on Friday to start a three-game series. Pittsburgh stands comfortably in wild-card position in the National League and is on the heels of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, led by a pitching staff which boasts a major-league best ERA (3.09).

Miami comes home after taking three of four in Colorado and has the best record in the NL East since May 31 at 25-21. Rookie Christian Yelich went 4-for-12 in his first three major-league contests and Donovan Solano was 6-for-12 in the same span. Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has yet to get on a big streak, but had two ringing doubles in Thursday's 5-3 win.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (9-2, 2.11 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Henderson Alvarez (0-1, 3.28)

Locke continues to shine, allowing three runs or fewer in 13 straight starts after beating Cincinnati with six strong innings on Sunday. The 25-year-old has endured some control problems at times with 51 walks in 115 innings, but has surrendered only six homers. Locke’s only appearance against the Marlins was in his major-league debut on Sept. 10, 2011 - when he yielded three runs over five innings.

Alvarez has pitched quite well in his four starts since coming off the disabled list, but has not notched a victory. The 23-year-old received two runs of support combined in his last two outings while giving up a pair of runs over 13 2/3 innings, and has yet to surrender a home run in 24 2/3 frames. Alvarez has never faced the Pirates, but Russell Martin is 2-for-10 against him with a home run.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh OF Starling Marte is batting .394 (28-for-71) against left-handed pitching.

2. Miami’s bullpen had allowed one run over 20 innings in seven games after the All-Star break before Kevin Slowey gave up three in the ninth Thursday.

3. The Pirates are 43-2 when they have a lead after six innings and their bullpen owns a 2.91 ERA.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Marlins 1