Pittsburgh @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2015 ) Pittsburgh 5, Miami 2

The surging Pittsburgh Pirates continue their pursuit of National League Central-leading St. Louis when they resume a four-game series at the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. The Pirates improved to 10-2 in their last 12 contests with a 5-2 victory Monday to move 27 games over .500 for the first time since 1992 - the last year they advanced to the NL Championship Series.

Right fielder Gregory Polanco collected four hits in the series opener and has hit safely in 35 of 42 games since moving into the leadoff slot on July 6. Also thriving near the top of the order is left fielder Starling Marte, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak and has scored at least one run in 11 of the past 12 contests. Strong pitching has been another key for Pittsburgh, which has permitted two runs or fewer in five of its last six games. The Marlins are hoping left fielder Christian Yelich comes off the disabled list Tuesday to help an offense that has produced five runs during a four-game losing streak.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Charlie Morton (8-4, 4.06 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Brad Hand (3-3, 4.46)

Morton followed a five-start winless drought by going unbeaten in his last four turns, including a masterful outing Thursday in which he blanked San Francisco on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. He appeared en route to a victory in his previous turn before surrendering a pair of seventh-inning homers at the New York Mets in a no-decision. Morton improved to 6-3 versus the Marlins with seven innings of two-run ball in his season debut.

Hand rebounded from a rocky performance at St. Louis with a strong performance in his last outing, earning the victory by holding Philadelphia to one run on four hits over six innings. He was battered for six runs on a season-worst 11 hits by the Cardinals, which followed seven innings of one-run ball versus Atlanta. Hand had a solid outing at Pittsburgh on May 27, allowing four hits over five scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Polanco has multiple hits in 10 of his last 18 games, raising his batting average from .243 to .267.

2. Marlins 2B Dee Gordon is 1-for-11 over his last three contests following a stretch of six straight multi-hit games.

3. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen appeared in his 1,000th career game Monday and recorded his fifth two-hit performance in his last seven contests.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Marlins 2