Miami @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2018 ) Miami 1, Pittsburgh 5

Trevor Williams' eye-popping second-half pitching exploits are going widely unnoticed on the national stage but the Pittsburgh right-hander doesn't seem to care as he and the Pirates try for a three-game sweep of the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday. "That's not what I pitch for," Williams told reporters. "I pitch to win ball games in a Pirates uniform."

Williams boasts a 0.72 ERA since the All-Star break - 0.66 in his last nine starts - and opposes Jeff Brigham, a September call-up who will make his second career start. “The growth I’ve seen from him is just incredible,” Pittsburgh pitcher Jameson Taillon told reporters about his teammate. “He’s in a good place right now. I think when the season ends, it’s going to be one of those things where he wishes it was just going to keep going, because he’s throwing that well.” The Pirates (71-71) prevailed 5-1 on Saturday for their fifth straight victory, improving to 15-6 at home versus the Marlins since 2012 as Josh Bell homered for the second straight game after not going deep for 19 contests. Miami (56-86), which is 3-8 in its last 11 games, extended a club record Saturday with its 83rd consecutive errorless contest at third base.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jeff Brigham (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.15)

Brigham allowed three runs, four hits and four walks while striking out two in three innings of a 6-1 loss to Toronto on Sept. 2. "I definitely didn't stay within myself early," the 26-year-old Washington native told reporters. "It was a big day for me and definitely a good learning experience." Brigham was 10-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 17 starts over three minor-league levels this season, including 5-2, 3.44 in nine turns with Triple-A New Orleans.

Williams hasn't yielded a run in winning his last two starts - 5-1 over Cincinnati on Monday and 2-0 at St. Louis on Aug. 29, permitting eight hits and four walks while striking out 12 over 12 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old Californian is 6-2 over his last nine starts, lowering his season ERA by 1.45 during that span. Williams is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in two games versus Miami, including a no-decision last season after allowing five runs over four innings with home runs to Derek Dietrich and J.T. Realmuto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins CF Lewis Brinson went 0-for-4 on Saturday after going 11-for-22 in six games since coming off the disabled list (hip).

2. Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco (.254, 23 home runs, 81 RBIs) is out for the season with a knee injury after an awkward slide Friday.

3. Miami SS JT Riddle (left wrist) missed his fifth straight game Saturday but took indoor batting practice.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Marlins 0