Rangers at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have followed up an eight-game losing streak against National League teams with a solid stretch entirely against the AL. They'll try to stay red hot in interleague play when they wrap up a two-game set with the visiting Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon.
With Tuesday's 5-4 win in the series opener, the Pirates improved to 7-1 against the AL this year after going 15-5 in 2018. Gregory Polanco had a two-run homer and Melky Cabrera added a two-run double to pace Pittsburgh's attack Tuesday night, helping to offset a three-hit, four-RBI night by Rangers right fielder Hunter Pence. Due to injuries to starters Chris Archer and Jameson Taillon, the Pirates will give Nick Kingham his first start of the year Wednesday. Struggling right-hander Shelby Miller goes for Texas, which is 4-10 on the road.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Shelby Miller (1-2, 7.99 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Nick Kingham (1-0, 6.39)
Miller is 1-6 with a 9.31 ERA in 10 starts over the last two years after a rocky outing against the Pirates at home his last time out. He was charged with four runs over 3 1/3 innings, although he did record more strikeouts (three) than walks (two) for just the second time in 2019. The 28-year-old is 1-4 with a 6.92 ERA in five career starts at Pittsburgh.
Kingham has made eight relief appearances, the last of which saw him give up four runs in just 2 1/3 frames in a blowout loss to Oakland on Friday. He was 5-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 starts as a rookie a year ago - all against National League teams - and feels he is ready to contribute a bit more on the mound. "I feel like I know my body enough and I know the game of baseball that I can hopefully manipulate a lineup enough to where I can put myself in a position to go three, four, five innings, if I need to," Kingham told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates CF Starling Marte was 2-for-3 on Tuesday and has reached safely in 27 of his last 28 interleague games.
2. Pence is 6-for-8 with two homers and eight RBIs over his last two road games.
3. Pirates LHP Felipe Vazquez is 10-for-10 in save opportunities while allowing one earned run over 16 2/3 innings.