Pittsburgh @ Texas preview
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 5, Texas 4
Andrew McCutchen is doing all he can to help Pittsburgh shed a wild-card spot and claim the National League Central crown. The Pirates outfielder had three hits and three RBIs in Tuesday’s victory over Texas and brings a nine-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s series finale against the host Rangers. McCutchen is batting .469 during the hot streak to raise his season average to .326 and Pittsburgh is one game behind first-place St. Louis with 18 games remaining.
Texas also has its sights on claiming a division title but has lost seven of its last nine games and stands two games behind Oakland in the American League West. The Rangers hold the top AL wild-card spot but have lost the first two games against the Pirates to clinch their fourth consecutive losing series. Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez leads the NL with 32 homers but hasn’t one in his last 13 games and has two RBIs during the stretch.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (7-10, 3.31 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Matt Garza (3-3, 4.31)
Burnett lost to St. Louis in his last outing when he gave up five runs and six hits in three innings. It marked the third time in a six-start span in which he gave up five earned runs. Burnett is 4-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts) against Texas.
Garza has pitched seven or more innings in seven of his nine starts for the Rangers but has also allowed four or more runs in six of his last seven turns. He lost to the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing when he gave up six runs (five earned) and nine hits in seven innings. Garza allowed one hit in five shutout innings against Pittsburgh on May 21 when he was with the Chicago Cubs and is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh leads the majors with a 14-5 interleague record entering its final game against an AL team this season.
2. Alvarez is 5-for-12 with a homer against Garza.
3. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre is batting .323 with a homer and six doubles in 31 career at-bats against Burnett.
PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Pirates 5