Miami @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2013 ) Miami 3, Pittsburgh 4

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a dominant team at home, tying for the major league lead with 39 wins while belting 45 homers to 24 for their opponents. The Pirates look to keep that going when they host the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game series. Andrew McCutchen has eight hits in his last 13 at-bats with five RBIs over four games, including a pair Tuesday in a 4-3 victory that kept the Pirates two games up on second-place St. Louis in the National League Central.

Josh Harrison’s walk-off blast Tuesday was the first homer that the Marlins surrendered in 13 games and sealed their third consecutive defeat. Logan Morrison leads the Miami offense, collecting 10 hits and six RBIs in the last five games. The Marlins starting pitchers, in the top quarter of the league with a 3.66 ERA, continue to give their team a chance to win.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Tom Koehler (3-6, 4.34 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (3-3, 4.07)

Koehler is coming off a victory over Matt Harvey and the New York Mets, tossing six scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed five runs over five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Pirates in his previous start – the only outing he has yielded more than three in his last six. Neil Walker was 2-for-3 against Koehler in that appearance – his first versus Pittsburgh.

Morton gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings to beat Koehler and the Marlins on July 27 – one of two wins in his last three starts. The 29-year-old, coming off Tommy John surgery, has 38 strikeouts and 12 walks in 48 2/3 innings during nine starts. Morton is 3-3 with a 5.11 ERA in seven career outings versus Miami and Giancarlo Stanton is 4-for-8 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh RHP Mark Melancon has allowed only one run and 11 hits in his last 22 appearances, totaling 22 innings.

2. Stanton is 3-for-28 -- including a hit Tuesday -- since producing seven hits in nine at-bats July 26-28 against the Pirates in Miami.

3. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez has recorded 10 of his NL-leading 27 homers against NL-East opponents in 29 games.

PREDICTION: Marlins 6, Pirates 4