Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) Cincinnati 2, Pittsburgh 4

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to reach 90 wins for the first time since 1992 - the franchise's last winning season - when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the rubber match of the crucial three-game series. The Pirates rebounded from a stunning loss on Friday with a 4-2 victory on Saturday to move one game ahead of the Reds in the battle for the top National League wild card. Pittsburgh also sits two games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.

Sunday's outcome will result in a two-game swing in the standings and could have a major bearing on next weekend's season-ending series between the division rivals in Cincinnati. Reds slugger Jay Bruce is hitless in nine at-bats in the series following a seven-hit, 10-RBI performance during a three-game sweep of Houston. Conversely, Ryan Ludwick is starting to heat up, snapping out of an 0-for-12 funk by going 5-for-8 in the series with two RBI singles.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), ROOT (Pittsurgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (13-11, 3.56 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (10-6, 3.27)

Arroyo is winless in his last four starts even though he has permitted a total of seven runs in his last three turns, including two and three hits in 6 1/3 innings at Milwaukee on Monday. He is 6-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 16 starts versus the Pirates, including seven innings of one-run ball on June 19. Arroyo is 4-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 12 road outings this season.

Locke won eight of his first nine decisions and was named to the National League All-Star team, but the wheels have come off in the second half for the 25-year-old. He has recorded one win in his last 10 starts, giving up one run on three hits to beat the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 12. Locke could not carry the momentum into his last start, allowing four runs over five innings in a loss to San Diego.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez is 5-for-10 against Arroyo, while RF Marlon Byrd is 8-for-21.

2. Bruce has only one hit in 10 at-bats versus Locke.

3. Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo sat out Saturday's game with a jammed thumb and is not expected to play Sunday.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3