Arizona @ Pittsburgh preview

PNC Park

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2013 ) Arizona 15, Pittsburgh 5


With the Arizona Diamondbacks facing an uphill climb in their bid to snag a postseason slot, third baseman Martin Prado said he expects the offense to set the tone for the team. Prado is doing his part during the past 10 games, driving in 13 runs to help the Diamondbacks go 7-3 in that span. Prado had four hits and belted a three-run homer in Saturday's 15-5 rout of Pittsburgh and will carry a five-game RBI streak into Sunday's series finale against the host Pirates.

The Diamondbacks are five games back of Cincinnati for the second wild card, but Pittsburgh has loftier goals - namely holding off St. Louis for the National League Central title. The Pirates have lost six of eight but still maintain a two-game lead over the Cardinals thanks to the second-best home record in the majors. Pedro Alvarez has three homers and seven RBIs during a six-game hitting streak and is tied with Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt for the NL lead with 30 homers.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (9-8, 3.63 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (4-3, 3.79)

Miley had a nine-start streak of allowing three runs or fewer snapped last time out when he gave up four runs in seven innings in a no-decision versus Baltimore. He won his three previous starts, permitting only two runs and 12 hits over 21 innings. Miley beat the Pirates in his second start of the season with 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball to improve to 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh.

Morton did not factor in the decision in his last turn despite giving up two runs over six innings against St. Louis. He earned his first home win in five starts in his prevous outing by limiting Miami to two runs in seven innings. Morton is 2-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks but has not faced them since tossing six scoreless innings of three-hit ball on Sept. 20, 2011.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has multiple hits in 10 of his last 14 games.

2. Goldschmidt leads the NL in RBIs and needs four more to reach 100.

3. Alvarez is the fifth player in franchise history with back-to-back 30-homer seasons.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 3

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