Houston @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2012 ) Houston 5, Pittsburgh 1
Wandy Rodriguez will get his second crack at the team that traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his new team has never needed a big game from the left-hander more than it does in the second of a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros. Houston claimed the series opener Monday, sending the Pirates to their fourth straight loss. Pittsburgh has tumbled down the standings since the All-Star break and is 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card in the National League.
The Pirates have lost 17 of 24 overall and are 22-27 since the All-Star break. The Pirates' home-field advantage has faded lately, too, as they've lost 11 of 17 at PNC Park, where they need one win to clinch the second winning record in the park's 12-year history (43-38 in 2006). Houston is looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since Aug. 10-11 and only the second time since June 26-27. The Astros haven't won consecutive road games against the same team all season. Pittsburgh has won nine of 12 meetings this season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston, Root Sports (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (3-10, 5.46 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (9-13, 3.86)
At age 21, Lyles already has 35 big-league starts under his belt, and he seems to be putting things together recently. His past two outings have been solid, and he'll try to continue that trend by beating Pittsburgh for the first time. Lyles is 0-2 with a 8.04 ERA in three starts against the Pirates, including 0-1 and a 9.90 ERA in two outings this year.
Rodriguez is 2-4 with a 4.12 ERA in seven games (six starts) for the Pirates after going 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA in 21 outings for the Astros. He has posted consecutive quality starts, though, and his last outing Wednesday against St. Louis was his best since April, as he tossed six scoreless innings of three-hit ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh OF Garrett Jones, who had three of the Pirates' five hits Monday, is 4-for-8 with two homers and six RBIs against Lyles.
2. The Astros recalled C Carlos Corporan, RHP Chuckie Fick, LHP Dallas Keuchel and OF J.D. Martinez from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and all four will be in uniform Tuesday.
3. Houston minor-league 2B Delino DeShields Jr. stole his 100th and 101st bases of the season Monday for Advanced Class A Lancaster. His father played 13 major-league seasons with five teams.