Pirates at Marlins
Garrett Cooper and Harold Ramirez have been remarkably steady in a lineup that has struggled to score runs in 2019, and the Miami Marlins received sizeable contributions from both players in their latest victory. The Marlins go for a third win in their last four contests following a six-losing streak Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the rubber match of their three-game set.
Cooper and Ramirez - the only Miami hitters batting over .300 on the season - each recorded three-hit performances on Saturday as Miami rallied from an early three-run deficit to edge Pittsburgh 4-3 after dropping the opener 11-0. The 28-year-old Cooper is hitting .360 with six homers and 19 RBIs since May 11, while the 24-year-old Ramirez is batting .333 over the same timeframe. The Pirates were held scoreless after the fourth inning on Saturday after entering the game averaging 5.8 runs over their last 23 contests and remain in a last-place tie in the National League Central with Cincinnati. Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson each recorded two hits and an RBI for Pittsburgh, which fell to 1-8 during its 10-game road trip after opening the season with a 17-13 road mark.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-6, 5.73 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (3-6, 3.67)
After turning in one of his best outings of the season against Atlanta on June 6, Archer responded with one of the worst of his career in a loss on Tuesday, surrendering seven runs - including a personal-worst five homers - over six innings versus the Braves. The two-time All-Star has walked multiple batters in each of his 11 turns this season and given up at least one homer in eight straight. Starlin Castro is 9-for-26 with a home run against Archer, who is 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in four career starts versus Miami.
Alcantara also has battled his own control issues in 2019 and fell to 2-3 despite posting a 2.74 ERA since the start of May following Monday's loss to St. Louis in which he permitted four runs - one earned - and walked four in five frames. The 23-year-old's 36 free passes are tied for fifth most in the National League and his 4.26 walks per nine innings is the third-highest mark among NL qualified starters. Alcantara is 2-4 with a 3.25 ERA in seven home outings this season as he enters his first career start against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cooper is riding an eight-game hitting streak and batting .413 in June.
2. Pirates rookie OF Bryan Reynolds is 8-for-12 with four runs scored over his last three games.
3. Castro singled in four at-bats on Saturday and is batting .364 during an 11-game hitting streak against Pittsburgh.