Baltimore @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2011 ) Baltimore 8, Pittsburgh 3

THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping a blast from the past provides them with a little punch in the present when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game series Tuesday night. The Pirates, losers of four straight, will be looking to get an emotional boost when they honor their 1971 World Series championship team that upended the favored Orioles in seven games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Root Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie (2-8, 3.56 ERA) vs. Pirates RH James McDonald (5-4, 4.80). Guthrie has won only once since throwing eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball in the season opener. He has not allowed an earned run in five of his 14 starts, but hasn't always received great run support and has been hurt by the long ball. He has surrendered 12 homers, including two on four occasions. He pitched five scoreless innings against Toronto, giving up one hit, before leaving his last start with back spasms. McDonald has won his last two starts but has not looked especially sharp in doing so. He continues to struggle with his control, walking 12 batters in his last 12 outings, and has pitched more than six innings in only one of his 14 starts. On the plus side, he has not been taken deep in his last four starts after surrendering nine homers in his first 10 starts. He is 2-1 with three no-decisions at PNC Park this season.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (35-37): Interleague play has been the bane of Pittsburgh, which was riding high following a three-game sweep in Houston last week to move two games above .500 for the first time in 12 years. The Pirates were then swept in Cleveland and pounded 8-3 in Monday’s series opener, falling behind by seven runs after two innings. Pittsburgh has managed only seven runs and watched its pitching staff yield 23 during its current four-game skid. One of the few bright spots Monday was a three-hit performance by Andrew McCutchen.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (33-37): Baltimore pounded out 14 hits for the second straight game in its series-opening rout. The top of the order was especially productive, with the Nos. 1-4 hitters combining to go 9-for-19 with six runs scored and three RBIs. Red-hot Derrek Lee notched his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, making him 11-for-18 in that span and raising his batting average 35 points to .249. Nick Markakis went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. He is batting .417 (20-for-48) during that stretch.

FINAL PITCH: The Pirates have won only four of their last 23 games against American League opponents. And they have lost 13 straight interleague games on the road.