Pittsburgh @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2013 ) St. Louis 13, Pittsburgh 0

The Pittsburgh Pirates have dominated St. Louis this season and bring a three-game division lead into Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series against the host Cardinals. The Pirates won four of five against St. Louis two weeks ago in Pittsburgh to wrest the National League Central lead away from the Cardinals, who lead the NL wild-card race. Pittsburgh is 7-3 against the Cardinals this season and won two of three games in St. Louis in late April.

St. Louis could be without Carlos Beltran after the All-Star outfielder fouled a ball off his right foot in Sunday’s victory over the Chicago Cubs. Both teams are struggling entering the series: Pittsburgh suffered a three-game series sweep in Colorado while St. Louis is only 2-5 on a 10-game homestand and has lost 13 of its last 18 games. The Pirates outscored the Cardinals 22-7 while winning the first four games of the recent five-game series before St. Louis won the finale 13-0.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Charlie Morton (4-3, 3.88 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (13-7, 2.66)

Morton started the 13-0 loss to St. Louis, allowing five runs and 10 hits in six innings to drop to 2-8 with a 6.30 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cardinals. He bounced back by beating the Marlins on August 7 when he gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings. Morton has issued just three bases on balls in 31 2/3 innings over his last five starts.

Wainwright is 0-2 over his last three outings and St. Louis pushed back his scheduled turn so he could start the opener of this series. He received a no-decision against the Pirates on July 31, allowing four runs in seven innings, and is 8-4 with a 5.19 ERA in 20 career appearances (16 starts) against Pittsburgh. Wainwright has walked just 21 batters in 24 starts and hasn’t issued more than two in any game this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen is 14-for-27 over his last nine games and has gone 9-for-23 against Wainwright.

2. Cardinals 1B/OF Allen Craig reached base five times (three hits, two walks) Sunday and is 8-for-15 in his career against Morton.

3. Pittsburgh will recall OF Andrew Lambo prior to Tuesday’s game. The 25-year-old Lambo has hit a combined 31 homers at two minor-league stops this season.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Pirates 2