Houston @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2011 ) Houston 4, Pittsburgh 1

THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros are linked by two things right now - a desire to hold off some dubious history and the need to give some young players a long look. Those two matters may seem counterproductive, but enough youngsters have shown promise for both teams that losing is not a foregone conclusion. The clubs have traded wins in the first two games of the series, with the pitching on both sides standing out. It was Houston’s turn Tuesday with Brett Myers earning his first win in two and half months and rookie Jimmy Paredes showing up for the youngsters. The host Pirates will be looking to take the rubber match when they hand veteran swingman Brian Burres the ball Wednesday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston, ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Brian Burres (1-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Astros LH J.A. Happ (5-15, 5.71).

Burres made his first major league appearance of the season in place of the ailing Jeff Karstens last week and earned the win, yielding one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings at Chicago. The 30-year-old spent most of 2010 in Pittsburgh, posting a 4-5 mark with a 4.99 ERA in 20 games - 13 starts. Burres has made only two appearances - one start - against Houston in his career, allowing a total of five runs and 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings. Happ is trying to finish a disappointing season strong. The 28-year-old has put together two of his best starts in his last two turns, allowing a total of one earned runs in 13 innings. Happ beat Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, surrendering only three hits and striking out six in seven scoreless innings. He owns a 3-2 record with a 2.00 ERA in seven career starts against the Pirates.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (65-77): Pittsburgh moved one step closer to its 19th consecutive losing season with Tuesday’s 4-1 setback. The longest stretch of losing in American pro sports looked like it would come to an end at one point this summer, but regression over the last month and a half has made another losing season a near certainty. The club finally recalled former top prospect Pedro Alvarez from Triple A Indianapolis on Tuesday and installed him in the starting lineup at third base. Alvarez went 0-for-3 and is batting .193 in 197 major league at-bats this season. Other Tuesday call-ups included promising pitchers Jeff Locke and Aaron Thompson, each of whom should get a chance to start before the end of the season.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (48-94): Tuesday’s victory kept Houston at 94 losses, three shy of tying the franchise record. Unlike the Pirates, the Astros have been out of it since the beginning of the season and have been able to give plenty of playing time to rookies over the last month. Jose Altuve has stood out among the hitters, with Paredes also showing signs that he may be a keeper. Paredes had three hits, drove in a run and scored twice Tuesday. Fellow rookie J.D. Martinez started strong but has struggled lately, going 3-for-19 over five games before getting Tuesday off.

FINAL PITCH: Pittsburgh was able to include the extra call-ups by transferring lefthander Paul Maholm and righthander Kevin Correia to the 60-day disabled list. Two of the biggest reasons the Pirates were able to stay in contention through the first half of the season, both Maholm (left shoulder strain) and Correia (strained left oblique) are done for the season but expect to be fully healed by spring training.