Pittsburgh @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 1

The Pittsburgh Pirates averted a season-high fifth straight defeat and assured they will leave St. Louis in first place in the National League Central when they face the host Cardinals in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday afternoon. Pittsburgh improved to 8-4 against St. Louis with a 5-1 victory Wednesday, restoring its three-game lead in the division. Starling Marte, who dropped a fly ball in the ninth inning of the series opener, had a two-run single Wednesday to end a 14-game RBI drought.

The Cardinals are in danger of relinquishing their hold on the top wild-card spot, leading division rival Cincinnati by just one-half game after losing six of nine on their current 10-game homestand. Matt Holliday shook off a mild ankle sprain to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and Jon Jay continued his torrid August, as he is batting .396 (23-for-51) in 13 contests. Lance Lynn will go for his 14th win when he opposes Pittsburgh's A.J. Burnett.

TV: 1:45 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (5-8, 2.95 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (13-6, 3.79)

Burnett had allowed a total of three earned runs in three starts before being blasted for six runs in 5 2/3 innings at Colorado last time out. He unraveled in one inning against the Rockies after allowing one run in a complete-game victory over them in his previous start. Burnett limited the Cardinals to one run on three hits over seven innings on July 30 and is 7-5 with a 3.67 in 14 career starts against them.

Lynn also was victimized by one bad inning in a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, when he gave up three runs on only three hits in 6 2/3 frames. The Cardinals have not given him much margin for error, scoring three runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts. Lynn is 4-1 with a 3.86 against the Pirates after allowing one run in six innings last month in a matchup against Burnett.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez needs one home run to match his career high of 30 set last year.

2. The loss to the Cubs dropped Lynn to 8-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 12 home starts.

3. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has eight two-hit performances in his last 11 games but is only 4-for-20 with seven strikeouts versus Lynn.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Pirates 2