Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2011 ) Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 10

THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies, much to the dismay of the rest of the league, have found a way to get even better. The Phillies, who are a major league-best 66-39, should have their newest addition - All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence - in the lineup on Saturday when the host the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies ended a two-game losing streak with a 10-3 victory Friday. The news broke during the game that Philadelphia had traded four prospects to last-place Houston in exchange for Pence.

TV: 7:05 pm. ET, CS (Philadelphia), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cliff Lee (9-7, 3.05 ERA) vs. Pirates RH James McDonald (7-4, 3.95).

Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner, went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in five June starts - three of which were shutouts. The wheels have fallen off in July, however. The lefthander is 0-2 with a 4.98 ERA in four outings, the last of which was his second-shortest of the season. Lee was ripped for five runs and 10 hits in four innings of a loss to San Diego on Monday. McDonald hasn’t allowed a run over his last 11 2/3 innings. He struck out a career-high nine in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-1 win over Atlanta on Monday to improve to 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last eight starts.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (66-39): The Phillies have to be thrilled they were able to acquire Pence, who is under contract until 2013, without parting with promising outfielder Dominic Brown or righthander Vance Worley. Pence, who is hitting .309 with 11 homers and 62 RBIs, is the righthanded bat the Phillies have been lacking. Pence most likely will bat fifth and provide protection for Ryan Howard. His arrival comes at a time when Philadelphia’s sporadic offense is heating up. Chase Utley, who finished a double shy of the cycle Friday, has five homers in July and Raul Ibanez has 21 RBIs this month. Pence will take over for Brown, who will likely be sent to the minors to gain more experience.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (54-50): Pittsburgh is a feel-good story, but it may not remain in the National League Central race much longer if it doesn't start hitting. The Pirates are averaging less than three runs over the last seven games. Lyle Overbay is mired in a 3-for-18 slump and Pedro Alvarez has only three hits in his last 21 at bats since being recalled from Triple A Indianapolis on July 25. Part of the problem is the quality of pitchers they have faced. In a four-day span, the Pirates faced three pitchers with at least 11 wins (Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Roy Halladay).

FINAL PITCH: The Pirates head into the final two games of July at 13-11. With one more win, Pittsburgh would post consecutive winning months for the first time since 1997.