Pittsburgh @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2012 ) NY Mets 3, Pittsburgh 1

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still mathematically in the National League wild-card race but the more realistic goal is trying to avoid a 20th consecutive losing season as they open a four-game series against the host New York Mets. The Pirates (75-77) have the longest string of ineptitude of any professional sports franchise and Sunday’s victory over the Houston Astros was only their third win in 16 games. New York just swept three games from the Miami Marlins.

Mets third baseman David Wright is closing in on the franchise record for career hits. Wright homered in Sunday’s win over the Marlins and has 1,415 hits, three short of Ed Kranepool’s club record. New York had lost 11 of 12 games prior to sweeping the Marlins. Pittsburgh had dropped five consecutive tilts before defeating the Astros and are 6 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL’s second wild card. The Pirates are just 12-30 since moving 16 games above .500 on August 8. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen is making a run at the NL batting title with a .336 average and has clubbed six homers in the last 14 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Kyle McPherson (0-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jenrry Mejia (0-1, 9.00)

McPherson is making his second major-league start. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 while losing to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. McPherson has struck out 13 and walked just three in 16 big-league innings.

Mejia takes the mound for his second start of the season and fifth of his career. He allowed five runs and six hits in three-plus innings while losing to the Brewers on Sept. 15. Mejia has an 0-5 record in 36 career major-league appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh is just 2-9 at New York’s Citi Field since it opened in 2009.

2. Mets closer Frank Francisco (elbow) is unlikely to pitch in the series and could be shut down for the season.

3. Pirates INF Josh Harrison was just 1-for-20 in September before matching a career-high with four hits against the Astros on Sunday.