Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 3, Cincinnati 4

The Pittsburgh Pirates managed not to lose any ground in the National League wild card race, but another demoralizing loss has the team in dire need of a victory. The Pirates suffered their fourth straight defeat and 21st in 30 games after dropping a 14-inning, 5 1/2-hour marathon to the host Cincinnati Reds in the series opener. Coming off a three-game home sweep at the hands of the lowly Cubs, the Pirates are only four games above .500, yet remain 2 1/2 games out of the wild card.

The Reds have all but wrapped up the NL Central, holding a 9 1/2-game lead over St. Louis with 20 games remaining. Cincinnati trails Washington by 2 1/2 games for the best overall record in the league, but has growing concerns after another shaky performance by closer Aroldis Chapman. The Cuban fireballer had his streak of 27 straight saves snapped Friday and was yanked in the ninth inning Monday after walking the bases loaded.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Pittsburgh), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Kevin Correia (10-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (7-9, 4.73)

Correia has alternated between the rotation and the bullpen in the past three weeks but will make his second straight start. He beat Houston last time out, yielding one run in six innings following a pair of relief appearances in which he gave up one run in a combined 6 1/3 innings. He is 0-1 in two starts against the Reds this season, allowing eight runs in 12 innings, and has a 7-2 lifetime mark in 20 appearances (12 starts) against them.

Leake was rocked by Philadelphia in his last outing, getting pounded for six runs and two homers in 2 2/3 innings to snap his two-start winning streak. He is 0-1 in three starts against the Pirates this season and has been hurt by the long ball, surrendering a pair of homers in two of the three outings. Leake has struggled at Great American Ball Park this year, logging a 3-5 mark and 5.69 ERA in 15 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. On the day he was named NL co-Player of the Week, Reds RF Jay Bruce went 0-for-5 on Monday to have his nine-game hitting streak snapped.

2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a homer and is batting .341, five points behind behind suspended Giants OF Melky Cabrera for the NL lead.

3. Reds manager Dusty Baker said Chapman has some "fatigue" and may be rested.