Pittsburgh @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 9, Cleveland 4

The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to put up big numbers on the scoreboard and can match the longest winning streak in the majors this season when they go for a three-game sweep of the host Cleveland Indians on Wednesday afternoon. Starling Marte extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games with a two-run homer among a pair of hits as the Pirates rolled to a 9-4 victory Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.

Josh Bell (9-for-16, last four games) and Gregory Polanco (nine-game hitting streak) also homered for Pittsburgh, which last won 11 in a row in 1996 and has tied a club record for consecutive interleague victories (eight) while scoring 56 runs in its last seven contests overall. Jameson Taillon takes the ball for the Pirates in the finale as they attempt to tie Houston’s 12-game win streak last month and Cleveland counters with All-Star Trevor Bauer. The inconsistent Indians, who lead the American League Central by 7 1/2 games, have dropped three straight after scoring 25 runs in their first two contests after the All-Star break. Slugger Edwin Encarnacion homered Tuesday after missing two games with a hand injury and is 8-for-16 in his past four outings for Cleveland, which leads the majors with 122 runs in July despite going just 10-9.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (7-7, 3.80 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.44)

Taillon has been outstanding in his last two trips to the mound, allowing two runs on 10 hits and three walks over 11 1/3 innings with 16 strikeouts combined. The 26-year-old Floridian has limited 16 opponents to three or fewer runs in his 20 starts and is 5-3 with a 3.02 ERA since the beginning of June. Taillon faces Cleveland for the first time and is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA in nine interleague career starts.

Bauer struggled in his first start after the All-Star break, permitting four runs on nine hits and five walks across four innings of a no-decision at Texas. The 27-year-old UCLA product had strung together eight consecutive quality starts before his last outing and he walked 10 in his past three appearances. Bauer yielded two runs over 6 1/3 innings to earn the win in his only career start versus Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland claimed OF Johnny Field on waivers from Tampa Bay on Tuesday and sent him to Triple-A Columbus.

2. Pittsburgh OF Corey Dickerson, who is 13-for-27 in his last six games, left Tuesday’s contest with discomfort in his left hamstring.

3. Indians UTIL Yandy Diaz, who went 7-for-14 with three runs scored in four games after his recall, was optioned to Columbus on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Pirates 3