Houston @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2011 ) Houston 1, Pittsburgh 3

THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros are both trying to avoid creating some bad history in the final month of the season. Unfortunately, at this point it looks like both clubs are staring down the inevitable. The Pirates managed to hold off taking another step toward their 19th straight losing season on Monday. But the Astros were on the losing end, drawing them closer to setting a franchise record for losses. Houston will be looking to even the series at a game apiece when it sends Brett Myers to the mound at PNC Park on Tuesday night.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Brad Lincoln (1-1, 3.64 ERA) vs. Astros RH Brett Myers (3-13, 4.81 ERA).

Lincoln will be looking to keep a streak of four straight quality starts going on Tuesday. The 26-year-old absorbed his first loss of the season last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, yielding three runs in six innings. Lincoln has made one start in his career against Houston, surrendering five runs in five innings to suffer the loss on July 6, 2010.

Myers will make his first start since Aug. 27 after leaving the team briefly to be at home for the birth of his fourth child. The veteran righthander has not won since June 7, posting an 0-7 record with a 4.87 ERA over his last 14 appearances. Myers gave up a run in two innings out of the bullpen against the Pirates last week and owns a career 6-6 record with a 3.26 ERA against Pittsburgh.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (65-76): The rain on Monday provided an appropriate backdrop for both Pittsburgh and Houston as they play out the string. A season filled with promise has taken a dark turn at the end for the Pirates, who were challenging for the division lead in late July only to fall off a cliff in August. The rest of the season will be spent looking for signs of a brighter future, one of which was delivered by James McDonald on Monday. The righthander sat through a 56-minute rain delay at the start of the game before coming on and dominating through 7 1/3 innings in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 triumph. The gem dropped his ERA below 4.00 (3.98) for the first time since late July. Derrek Lee hit his 16th home run – a solo blast in the eighth inning – and has seven RBIs in three games since returning from the disabled list.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (47-94): Houston is in the same position at Pittsburgh, searching for signs of hope to take into next season as a host of young players fight to prove themselves. Rookie pitcher Henry Sosa turned in a nice start opposite McDonald, allowing two runs in six innings, and rookie second baseman Jose Altuve hit an RBI triple. Rookie slugger J.D. Martinez, who had made a strong impression when he first arrived, is struggling through some growing pains now. The 24-year-old is 3-for-19 without an RBI or an extra-base hit over his last five games. Losers of four straight, Houston is now within three losses of tying the franchise record of 97.

FINAL PITCH: Pittsburgh outfielder Jose Tabata left Monday’s game in the third inning with pain in his left wrist. Tabata has been dealing with mild tenderness in the area for a while and expects to get regular rest as the season winds down.