Miami @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 2, Miami 6
The Pittsburgh Pirates look to continue their home dominance Friday when they begin a three-game series against the Miami Marlins. Pittsburgh, which owns the best home record in the National League at 29-14, has captured 18 of its last 22 games at PNC Park. The Pirates return home from a 3-3 road trip that ended with two straight wins in Colorado.
Pittsburgh, which occupies the second National League wild-card spot and trails Cincinnati by a half-game in the Central Division, has scored a major league-leading 85 runs so far this month after leading the league in June. All-Star Andrew McCutchen has flexed his muscles of late, hitting six home runs over his last seven games. Miami enters having lost 10 of its last 14 road contests. The Marlins scored a total of three runs in two straight losses at Chicago after crossing the plate nine times in their series-opening victory.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), Root Sports (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (8-7, 4.47 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Kevin Correia (6-6, 4.25)
Nolasco has lost four of his last six decisions, including a setback against Washington on Sunday in which he allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old yielded a total of two earned runs in his previous three starts. Nolasco, who is 5-2 on the road this season, owns a 5-3 record and 2.10 ERA in 10 career games - eight starts - against the Pirates.
Correia won his fourth consecutive decision Saturday despite allowing four runs - two earned - over six innings at Milwaukee. The 31-year-old has worked fewer than seven frames in each of his last 11 outings. Correia is 2-4 with a 7.24 ERA in 14 career contests - seven starts - against the Marlins, including a 3 2/3-inning performance in Miami on May 15 during which he surrendered six runs and eight hits.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins RHP Edward Mujica returned from a broken toe and retired the only batter he faced Thursday. Mujica had been sidelined since June 29.
2. McCutchen has 73 career home runs, one shy of Vince DiMaggio for third place among CFs in Pirates history.
3. Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker had his 17-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday.