Twins at Pirates

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park. First pitch is set for the afternoon.

Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (4-2) is scheduled to start for the Twins. Right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-2) is available for Minnesota. The Pirates have not announced a probable pitcher.

Pittsburgh (31-28) has won the first two games of the series, 10-9 on Saturday and 6-5 on Friday. The Pirates lead the season series 2-0. Pittsburgh is a minus-1.5 run favorite, according to Interstat’s game simulator, which projects a 5-4 Pirates victory. The over/under is 7.5 runs.

Minnesota (27-32) is looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Twins are 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Twins infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens enters the game with a hot bat. In Saturday’s loss, Clemens went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs. Over his last 10 games, Clemens is hitting .320 (8 for 25) with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.

Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum is also swinging well. He went 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs in Saturday’s win. Mangum is hitting .300 (6 for 20) over his last five games.

The weather forecast at game time calls for 70-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

Following the series, Minnesota travels to Chicago for three games against the White Sox starting Monday. Pittsburgh opens a three-game series at Houston on Tuesday.