Los Angeles @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 2, LA Dodgers 3
With tight races shaping up in all three National League divisions and for the two wild cards, every game will matter down the stretch for the contenders - and the next four at PNC Park particularly carry extra weight, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers look to improve their postseason footing. The Pirates are 4 1/2 games behind Cincinnati in the NL Central, but they lead the wild-card standings and are 25-10 in their last 35 games at PNC Park.
The Dodgers took two of three in Miami over the weekend to stay within one game of San Francisco in the NL West, and they're 2 1/2 games behind the Pirates. Hanley Ramirez was red-hot against his former team, as the Dodgers' biggest deadline acquisition went 6-for-13 with five RBIs in the series. Los Angeles is in the midst of a 10-game road trip that wraps up this weekend with three games at fellow playoff contender Atlanta.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, ROOT Sports
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Aaron Harang (7-7, 3.80 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jeff Karstens (4-2, 3.77)
Harang has lost his last two starts, but he was the victim of poor run support his last time out. He held Colorado to three runs over six innings but took the loss in a 3-1 defeat. Harang is 14-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 24 starts against the Pirates, including an 8-3 mark at PNC Park, where he has won his last three starts.
Karstens has won his last four decisions - his last loss was June 25 at Philadelphia - and turned in a quality start Tuesday against Arizona, though he didn't get a decision. He allowed three runs over six innings for his fifth quality start in 11 outings this season. Karstens is 0-3 with a 5.25 ERA in six games (five starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers OF Shane Victorino has hit safely in eight of his 10 games since being acquired from Philadelphia. He is riding a six-game hitting streak.
2. After posting just three shutouts in their first 101 games, the Dodgers have three in their last 14 contests.
3. Pittsburgh has allowed at least one run in the first inning in six straight games. The Pirates have been outscored 81-56 in the first inning this season.