PIRATES GAME PREVIEW

NEW YORK METS (43-59) vs. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (55-51)

RHP ZACK WHEELER (4-6, 4.33 ERA) vs. RHP JOE MUSGROVE (4-4, 3.90 ERA)

A three-week tear not only has the Pittsburgh Pirates in the thick of the wild-card race but they have also moved into contention in the National League Central, trailing the first-place Chicago Cubs by six games. Winners of 15 of their last 18 contests, the Pirates look to make it three straight over the visiting New York Mets in Sunday's finale of a four-game set.

Despite a patchwork lineup missing Corey Dickerson and Josh Bell, who both went on the disabled list Saturday, Pittsburgh beat major-league ERA leader Jacob deGrom 5-0 on Saturday night. Second baseman Adam Frazier had an RBI double among three hits against deGrom and is 6-for-11 with four doubles in four games since he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. The Mets have already traded closer Jeurys Familia and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, and the next to go could be right-hander Zack Wheeler, who will get the starting nod in Sunday's game. “He is a hard guy to replace,” New York manager Mickey Callaway told reporters. “That is why if they trade him, it will really have to be worth it, and I think they will do the right thing in that regard.”

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (4-6, 4.33 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (4-4, 3.90)

WHEELER has been linked to trade rumors and he has bolstered his value with a string of strong outings, including seven innings of two-run ball to beat San Diego on Tuesday. He also won his previous turn by giving up four runs - two on a late homer - over 7 2/3 innings against Washington to help extend his unbeaten streak to five starts. Wheeler owns a 2.08 ERA in a pair of career no-decisions against Pittsburgh.

MUSGROVE worked at least seven innings for the third time in four starts at Cleveland on Tuesday, picking up the victory by holding the Indians to two runs on five hits. He is 0-4 in his last five home starts after giving up five runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus Milwaukee on July 15. Musgrove, who has never started a game against the Mets but won one relief appearance, owns a 4.95 ERA at PNC Park and a 1.80 mark on the road this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates RF Gregory Polanco is 5-for-9 over the past two games.

2. Mets OF-3B Jose Bautista is 5-for-16 during a four-game hitting streak.

3. Pittsburgh called up OF Austin Meadows and INF/OF Jose Osuna to replace Bell (oblique) and Dickerson (hamstring).

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Mets 3

GAME NOTES

THE PIRATES...have gone 13-2 in their last 15 games...Won 11 straight games between 7/11-24...Have won 15 of their last 18 games and have gone

THE PIRATES...have gone 13-2 in their last 15 games...Won 11 straight games between 7/11-24...Have won 15 of their last 18 games and have gone 19-10 in their last 29...Have gone 16-8 this month; the fifth-best record in all of MLB behind the Red Sox (17-5), Rockies (15-5), Dodgers (16-7) and Athletics (15-7)...Were a season-high nine games over .500 following the action on 5/17 (26-17)...Were 51-55 after 106 games in 2017 (51-56 after 107).

BUCCO BLANKINGS: Last night’s 5-0 shutout of the Mets marked Pittsburgh’s 12th of the season - tops in the Majors and matching the club’s total from last year...The last season in which the Pirates had more than 12 blankings was 2013 (16). FLYING HIGH IN JULY: In his eight seasons as Bucco manager, Clint Hurdle has guided the Pirates to a 120-83 record during the month of July (.591 winning percentage)...That record ranks second among all Major League teams behind the Dodgers (123-71; .634) for the month of July.

BULLISH PEN: Since Pittsburgh’s 17-5 loss to the Phillies on 7/6, the Bucco bullpen has posted a 2.54 ERA (56.2ip/16er) in 18 games, which includes 7.0 scoreless frames over the last two games...The pen’s ERA since 7/7 ranks first among National League teams and second among all Major League teams behind Oakland (2.26).

EXTRA! EXTRA!: Among all National League outfielders, Gregory Polanco ranks first with 45 extra-base hits...His 18 home runs rank fifth among N.L. outfielders and are four shy of his career high of 22, established in 2016. ON DECK: Following an off day tomorrow, the Pirates are scheduled to host the Cubs for a brief two-game series beginning Tuesday night...The Bucs are 4-5 against the Cubs this season (1-2 at PNC Park and 3-3 on the road)...The nine-game homestand concludes with three games against the Cardinals beginning Friday night.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Pirates have won each of their last 13 games when they have scored the first run...Overall this season, the Bucs are 39-15 when scoring first and 16-36 when the opposing team plates the first run.

DOING SOME YARD WORK: The Pirates have homered in 11 of their last 13 games, connecting for a total of 25 taters in that span...Entering today’s action, the Bucs lead all National League teams with 34 home runs hit during the month of July (the Yankees lead all teams with 35)...The 34 home runs hit this month are six behind the club record for the month of July (40 in 1966) and represent the most hit in the month since the club clubbed 39 in 2012.

FROM THE TOP: The Pirates have used 11 different starters in the leadoff spot this season, matching the most in one season for the club since 1900 (also used 11 in 1956)...In the last 10 games, the players appearing in the leadoff spot have combined to hit .432 (19-for-44) with 11 RBI and 14 runs scored.