St. Louis @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2013 ) St. Louis 2, Pittsburgh 9

The Pittsburgh Pirates put on a rousing display in the opener of a pivotal five-game series and can move into first place with a doubleheader sweep when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Pittsburgh pulled within a half-game of St. Louis in the National League Central with Monday’s 9-2 victory, a win sparked by a four-run first inning. The loss was a season-worst fourth straight for the Cardinals, who have scored five total runs during the skid.

St. Louis has led the NL Central since late April, but has struggled on offense recently and has tallied three runs or fewer in seven of the last nine games. Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez took over the NL home run lead with his 27th blast, a three-run shot in the opening inning. The Pirates are 4-2 against St. Louis this season.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Tyler Lyons (2-3, 5.51 ERA) vs. Pirates TBA

Lyons will be recalled as the 26th man to start in the nightcap and immediately returned to Triple-A Memphis. It is his seventh major-league start of the season and the first since giving up four runs in 1 2/3 innings against Texas on June 21. He won his first two major-league starts before losing three straight prior to a no-decision against the Rangers.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said after Monday’s contest that he would reveal his Game 2 starting pitcher Tuesday. The leading candidates are right-hander Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 4.02 ERA) and right-hander Stolmy Pimentel, who are starting pitchers for Triple-A Indianapolis. Cumpton made three starts for Pittsburgh earlier this season while Pimentel has never pitched in a major-league game.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 1B Allen Craig is 0-for-17 with nine strikeouts over the last five games.

2. Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen had two hits in the opener and is batting .337 in July.

3. Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran has 15 career homers against Pittsburgh.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 9, Pirates 6