Pittsburgh @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 0, NY Mets 6

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey goes after his 20th victory when the New York Mets conclude a four-game home series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. The 37-year-old Dickey had just 41 career victories entering the season before stunning just about everyone in 2012. Dickey was 8-13 for the Mets last season but is now on the verge of being New York’s first 20-game winner since Frank Viola in 1990. Pittsburgh was eliminated from playoff contention with Wednesday’s loss.

The Pirates were flying high entering the final third of the campaign before falling apart. Pittsburgh has lost 32 of its last 45 games and needs to go 5-2 over its final seven games to avoid its 20th consecutive losing season. Club president Frank Coonelly announced Wednesday that there be no changes made at the top of the club’s organizational hierarchy. New York has won five of its last six games and David Wright (1,420) became the franchise’s career hit leader during Wednesday’s victory. Wright will be glad to see Pirates starter Kevin Correia on the mound, having gone 11-for-14 with two homers and three doubles against him.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Kevin Correia (11-10, 4.11 ERA) vs. Mets RH R.A. Dickey (19-6, 2.66)

Correia is 2-2 and has allowed just seven earned runs in four starts since returning to the rotation. He matched a career-high with nine strikeouts against the Houston Astros in his last outing but lost while allowing four runs (three earned) and seven hits in six-plus innings. Correia is 2-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 12 career appearances (six starts) against the Mets.

Dickey will start one more time before the season ends so this won’t be his only shot at notching victory No. 20. He defeated the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up two runs and six hits in eight innings. Dickey struck out 11 in seven innings – allowing one run and five hits – while beating the Pirates on May 22. Dickey is 2-2 with a 2.52 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker (back) has missed two consecutive games and could be shut down for the season. He has been battling back issues since late August.

2. Mets SS Ruben Tejada had his fifth four-hit game of the season on Wednesday and is 7-for-11 in the series.

3. Pirates INF Josh Harrison is 6-for-10 against Dickey, while All-Star OF Andrew McCutchen is just 2-for-11 with five strikeouts.