Pittsburgh @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 11

The St. Louis Cardinals have racked up 19 runs in the first two contests of the series and look to complete a three-game sweep when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon. Tyler O'Neill hit a three-run homer and Marcell Ozuna collected three RBIs as the Cardinals posted an 11-5 victory on Tuesday.

St. Louis has won three straight and five of seven to boost its lead for the National League's second wild card to three games over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who arrive in town for a four-game series that begins on Thursday. The Cardinals have been explosive on offense in recent weeks as Tuesday's outing marked the fourth time in their last 15 contests that they have scored 11 or more runs. The Pirates have lost four consecutive road games, with the setbacks in St. Louis being the first two of a six-game trip that ends with three in Milwaukee. Pittsburgh's Josh Bell is 5-for-10 in the series and 7-for-15 with two homers, two doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored over his last four games.

TV: 1:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (12-9, 3.40 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Daniel Poncedeleon (0-1, 2.67)

Taillon has won three consecutive starts and owns a 1.88 ERA over his last four turns. The 26-year-old has been strong since the All-Star break, going 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in nine outings. Taillon is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals this season and 2-1 with a 3.57 mark in seven career turns.

Poncedeleon is making his fourth start and 10th appearance of the campaign. The 26-year-old has gone 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his previous three starts, including the stellar debut in which he worked seven no-hit frames against Cincinnati on July 23. Poncedeleon's most recent start also was against the Reds on Sept. 1 and he didn't fare that well as he yielded three runs and five hits over 3 1/3 innings en route to his first career setback.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ozuna has gone 13-for-30 with five homers and 10 RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.

2. Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli is mired in a 23-game home-run drought.

3. St. Louis 3B Jedd Gyorko (groin) could be available as a pinch-hitter on Wednesday and might be able to start as soon as Thursday.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Cardinals 2