Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2019 ) Philadelphia 1, Pittsburgh 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense woke up with 13 hits on Saturday night and hope to carry the momentum over into the series finale when they host the rival Philadelphia Phillies for the rubber match of a three-game set Sunday. Starling Marte had three hits and scored twice as the Pirates posted a 5-1 victory after managing just 19 runs while losing six of the first seven games following the All-Star break.

Outfielder Bryan Reynolds had a pair of hits Saturday and is 10-for-25 over the last six games to improve his batting average to .340 - best of all rookies in the majors - for Pittsburgh, which trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by 7 1/2 games in the National League Central. Rookie right-hander Dario Agrazal will try to improve to 3-0 in his young major-league career when he takes the mound for the Pirates in the series finale, while newly-signed lefty Drew Smyly is expected to toe the rubber for the Phillies. Philadelphia, which is one-half game out of the second wild card spot on the NL, is 4-5 since the All-Star break and managed just three hits in Saturday’s loss while striking out 11 times - four by J.T. Realmuto. Bryce Harper was hitless in three at-bats Saturday but is 8-for-21 with four doubles, a homer, four walks and eight RBIs over the last five games for the Phillies.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Drew Smyly (1-5, 8.42 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Dario Agrazal (2-0, 2.45)

Smyly was signed as a free agent Friday and will replace Vince Velasquez in the rotation two days later after opting out of a minor-league contract with Milwaukee. The 30-year-old Arkansas product made nine starts with Texas earlier this season, going 1-4 with a 7.90 ERA and serving up 12 homers, before being released. Melky Cabrera is 2-for-6 with a double versus Smyly, who is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two career appearances against Pittsburgh.

Agrazal is expected to get the start after Joe Musgrove was moved up to Saturday to take the place of Trevor Williams, who was struggling with flu-like symptoms. The 24-year-old from Panama will make his fifth major-league start after allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his first four while completing six innings in the past three. Agrazal permitted two runs and five hits over six innings in his only previous home start against Milwaukee on July 6 to earn the win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh OF Corey Dickerson had two hits Saturday and is 13-for-27 in his last seven games against the Phillies.

2. Philadelphia RHP Mike Morin gave up a run in one inning Saturday in his debut with the team after being acquired from Minnesota for cash considerations.

3. Pirates 2B Adam Frazier is batting .393 this month and boasts 22 hits in July, tied for second-most in the NL.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Phillies 4