Pirates at Mets
A visit to the struggling New York Mets was just what the doctor ordered for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who aim for their second straight win at Citi Field when the teams continue a three-game set Tuesday. The Pirates lost five straight games before racing to a 5-0 lead and hanging on for a 6-4 win in the series opener.
Losers of seven in a row, the Mets committed three errors while falling for the 14th time in their last 15 home games. Starling Marte had a single, a walk, two steals and three runs scored to lead the way for Pittsburgh, which matched their scoring total from the previous four games combined. They will try to build off the momentum against New York lefty Steven Matz, who opposes Chad Kuhl for the Pirates. Center fielder Brandon Nimmo, one of the only bright spots for the Mets over the past month or so, did not start Monday due to a finger injury but an MRI came back negative and he was able to enter the game in the eighth.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (5-5, 4.56 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (3-5, 3.68)
Kuhl allowed three runs or fewer in five straight starts before getting rocked for a season-high eight runs in just two frames against Arizona on Thursday. He has faced the Mets just once in his career - last year at home - and was reached for five runs in just 4 1/3 innings. The University of Delaware product owns a 6.04 ERA with opponents hitting .319 against him in 10 starts at night.
Matz also had a nice run going before a rocky outing at Coors Field on Thursday, when the Colorado Rockies got to him for five runs over 5 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .119 with runners in scoring position in Matz's last nine starts. Josh Harrison is 3-for-3 with a triple against the 27-year-old Matz, who lost his one prior matchup with the Pirates despite allowing two runs in five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Harrison is batting .389 over his last 18 games against New York.
2. Mets 1B/3B Wilmer Flores slugged a three-run homer Monday and has eight RBIs over his last eight games.
3. New York recalled RHP Tyler Bashlor from Double-A Binghamton and optioned RHP Chris Flexen to Triple-A Las Vegas.