Reds at Pirates
Cincinnati Reds rookie outfielder Jesse Winker has put his best foot forward in his bid to have an extended stay in the majors. Recalled from Triple-A Louisville prior to the series opener, the 23-year-old has homered in back-to-back contests heading into Thursday's finale against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
Adam Duvall also went deep for the fourth time in seven games overall in Wednesday's 5-2 victory, improving to 12-for-34 with three homers, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored versus Pittsburgh this season. Like Duvall, the rest of the Reds have run roughshod over the Pirates as the cellar-dwelling club owns a resounding 8-1 mark against Pittsburgh this season and a paltry 36-62 record against everyone else. The plummeting Pirates have dropped six of seven to reside 6 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the National League Central. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-7 in the series and is 8-for-16 with four homers, five RBIs and six runs scored in his last five games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sal Romano (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (3-7, 4.84)
Romano saw his pitch count elevate rapidly on Friday after allowing six walks in 3 2/3 innings of a no-decision at Miami. The 23-year-old issued three free passes in the first inning to load the bases before striking out the side to end the threat. "You can't defend walks," Romano said. "I'm not really giving up the extra-base hit or hits, but I'm putting guys on with free passes and there's just no excuse for that."
Kuhl also had issues with his control on Friday as he walked five batters in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision at San Diego. The 24-year-old otherwise has pitched well in his last 11 outings, but only has a 2-2 mark to show for it despite registering a 3.72 ERA. Kuhl has limited experience against the current roster of the Reds, save for Scooter Gennett (1-for-6).
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez is 4-for-9 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored in his last three games.
2. Pirates SS Jordy Mercer is just 3-for-21 in his last seven contests.
3. Reds RF Scott Schebler, who went on the disabled list Tuesday, has a bruised rotator cuff and will be out "a few weeks," manager Bryan Price said.