Houston @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 5, Houston 9
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue their quest for a playoff spot Monday, when they host the floundering Houston Astros in the opener of their three-game series at PNC Park. Pittsburgh, which entered the All-Star break atop the National League Central, trails division-leading Cincinnati by 11 games but is 1 1/2 behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot. The Pirates have plunged in the standings thanks to a stretch during which they have lost 16 of 23.
Pittsburgh returns home after being swept in a three-game series in Milwaukee. It welcomes in a club with even bigger problems in the Astros, who have won just three of their last 19 games. Houston, which has dropped seven of eight, squandered the chance for its second winning streak since late June as it allowed five runs in the eighth inning Sunday and dropped a 5-3 decision to Cincinnati.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN (Houston), Root Sports (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Edgar Gonzalez (NR) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (0-0, 0.00)
Gonzalez is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his Astros debut. The 29-year-old Mexican went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts for the RedHawks after being signed out of the Mexican League by Houston in late August. Gonzalez, who began the season in the Rockies organization, is 14-25 with a 5.90 ERA in 107 major-league games - 41 starts - with Arizona, Oakland and Colorado.
Locke will be making his first start of the year following a pair of relief appearances last month. The 24-year-old went 0-3 in four outings in 2011, allowing 12 runs and 21 hits in 16 2/3 innings. Locke went 10-5 with a 2.48 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez has not started in the majors since 2009 with Oakland. He posted a 2-2 record with one complete game and 2.84 ERA in six outings with his hometown team in Monterrey of the Mexican League this year.
2. Pittsburgh 2B Brock Holt recorded his first two hits and notched his first RBI in his initial major-league start Sunday.
3. Houston is making its final visit to PNC Park as a member of the NL Central. The Astros move to the American League West next season.