Marlins at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates carried a hot stretch into the final month of the season and have a great shot to keep it going when they begin hosting a three-game series Tuesday with the struggling Miami Marlins, who have lost a franchise-record 15 straight on the road. The Pirates scored 37 runs in a four-game sweep at Colorado over the weekend and have taken eight of their last 10 overall.
They also swept their last home series from Aug. 23-25 against Cincinnati, the team they could pass to avoid finishing in last place in the National League Central. Pittsburgh is batting .338 with 16 home runs during the 8-2 run, with Adam Frazier and starter Steven Brault going deep at Coors Field in Sunday's 9-2 rout. Rookie Bryan Reynolds did not homer in the four-game sweep but was 9-for-21 with four doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored for the Pirates. He and his teammates will look to stay hot against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who starts the opener Tuesday opposite Pittsburgh rookie Mitch Keller.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-12, 4.22 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Mitch Keller (1-3, 8.62)
Alcantara was winless in five August starts despite posting a 3.03 ERA and holding opponents to a .174 average. He had a quality start against the Pirates on June 16 at home. The 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, who has a 3.65 ERA on the road this year, has appeared once in relief in his career at PNC Park.
The highly touted Keller posted the best start of his young career two turns ago with six innings of one-run ball against Cincinnati, but failed to follow it up at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Phillies got to the 23-year-old for eight runs and 11 hits in four frames in a 12-3 win over the Pirates. Keller has 41 strikeouts and 12 walks in 31 1/3 innings but opponents are batting .362 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro is 7-for-16 with three home runs and five RBIs over his last four games.
2. Pirates 3B Colin Moran is 17-for-44 during a 12-game hitting streak.
3. Pittsburgh has won four straight meetings with Miami at home and eight of the last 10 overall dating to the 2017 season.