Pirates at Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to generate more run support for A.J. Burnett when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. Pittsburgh has averaged 2.9 runs in Burnett's starts, a big reason why the veteran has only four victories - the fewest over the first 16 outings of a season in his career. The Reds will counter with Mat Latos, who struggled into the All-Star break but is 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA in nine starts against the Pirates.
Cincinnati remained five games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central following a 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday, but holds down the final wild-card spot by 5 1/2 games over Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The Reds' Brandon Phillips continued to produce when it matters most, delivering a three-run double to put Friday's game out of reach. Phillips, who is hitting .410 with runners in scoring position, has 77 RBIs - tied for the NL lead with Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (4-6, 3.06 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mat Latos (8-3, 3.53)
Burnett made two starts prior to the All-Star break after missing nearly a month with a calf injury and allowed four runs (three earned) in 10 2/3 innings. The 36-year-old is 5-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 13 starts against the Reds, but 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in three outings in Cincinnati. The Reds' roster is hitting .218 against Burnett, who has handled Shin-Soo Choo and Jay Bruce (combined .154 average in 39 at-bats).
The break came at a good time for Latos, who lost three of his last five decisions and allowed a season-high six runs in a season-low four innings in a 6-5 loss at Atlanta on July 11. The 25-year-old suffered his only home setback in eight starts this season to Pittsburgh, a 4-0 decision June 18 when he yielded three runs on as many hits and struck out nine in five innings. The Pirates' roster is hitting .190 against Latos, with Andrew McCutchen 3-for-15 (four strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Pirates, who began a 10-game road trip Friday, fell two games behind the Cardinals.
2. Phillips is 9-for-11 with 21 RBIs while batting with the bases loaded this season.
3. 1B Garrett Jones' error in the seventh inning Friday ended the Pirates' 41-inning streak without one, which matches a season high.