Seattle @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2019 ) Seattle 6, Pittsburgh 0

The Seattle Mariners have been flexing their offensive muscles in their last two games while the Pittsburgh Pirates have been hemorrhaging runs at a staggering pace. The Mariners aim to extend their winning streak to four games on Wednesday when the cellar-dwelling clubs continue their interleague series in Pittsburgh.

Austin Nola answered a 1-for-18 skid with four hits in Seattle's 11-10 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday and with three more two days later, including a solo homer in a 6-0 romp over the Pirates (65-86). Omar Narvaez also belted a solo shot among his three hits and enters Wednesday's tilt having gone 9-for-19 with three homers, six RBIs and five runs scored in his last five games for the Mariners (63-88). Impressive offensive numbers to be certain, although they pale in comparison to the 53 runs and 59 hits that Pittsburgh has allowed during its four-game losing streak. Taken a step further, Pirates starting pitchers have combined to yield 26 runs on 29 hits -- including nine homers -- over their last four games (14 innings).

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Justin Dunn (0-0, 27.00 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Dario Agrazal (4-4, 4.91)

Dunn's major league debut left plenty to be desired, as the 23-year-old allowed two runs and five walks in two-thirds of an inning in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Thursday. "There's lessons you're going to learn, and I think he learned a very valuable one (versus the Reds): the value of slowing it down," Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Dunn, who threw 23 balls among his 37 pitches. Seattle envisions Dunn to be able to work two to three innings before turning things over to left-hander Tommy Milone (3-9, 4.93), who is 0-2 in his last four appearances overall and 2-4 on the road this season.

Agrazal owns a 2-4 record with a 7.08 ERA in his last eight trips to the mound after permitting three runs on as many hits in four innings of a no-decision at San Francisco on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has enjoyed significantly better success versus left-handed batters (.223) as opposed to right-handed hitters (.341), although six batters from each side of the plate have taken him deep this season. Agrazal will make his 14th career appearance overall and first versus Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh All-Star LHP Felipe Vazquez was arrested Tuesday on charges of computer pornography -- solicitation of a child, and providing obscene material to minors.

2. Seattle rookie Kyle Lewis went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in the opener after going 9-for-25 with four homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored in his first six games of his career.

3. Pittsburgh rookie OF Bryan Reynolds is expected to return to the lineup after receiving a day off in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Pirates 3