Pirates at Reds
On the verge of completely sliding out of playoff contention, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be catching a break when they open a six-game road trip against the last-place Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. One problem, though, for Pittsburgh: Cincinnati is buried in the cellar of the National League Central but has won eight of 10 against the Pirates.
Pittsburgh is 3-9 in its last 12 games after dropping three of four to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the lone victory coming in a game in which it was no-hit for nine innings. Josh Harrison, who spoiled the no-hit bid with a walk-off homer in the 10th inning on Wednesday, has hit safely in five straight for the Pirates, who trail the Chicago Cubs by eight games in the Central and Colorado by 8 1/2 games for the second wild-card. The Reds, who averted a three-game sweep by the Cubs on Thursday, stumbled out of the All-Star break by losing 14 of 16 games but they are 13-11 since. First baseman Joey Votto is batting .316 after stretching his on-base streak to 28 straight games -- the longest active string in the majors.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (11-10, 3.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Robert Stephenson (1-4, 6.13)
Nova halted a five-start winless drought Sunday, pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up three runs on eight hits in a victory over St. Louis. He was 0-4 over the previous five turns, yielding six homers and 23 runs (19 earned) over 28 1/3 innings. Tucker Barnhart (5-for-12) and Eugenio Suarez (5-for-14) have hurt Nova, who has allowed eight runs (seven earned) in losing both starts to the Reds this season.
Stephenson finally cracked the win column in his 18th appearance of the season, limiting Atlanta to two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings. He turned in a strong effort in a no-decision against the Pirates on Aug. 2, permitting one run on two hits over a season-high 5 2/3 innings. Stephenson tossed two scoreless innings versus Pittsburgh in April but was reached for four runs in 2 2/3 innings three weeks later.
WALK-OFFS
1. Suarez is riding a nine-game hitting streak
2. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (left wrist inflammation) will be re-evaluated Friday to see if he can return from the disabled list.
3. Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias has converted 24 saves in 25 chances.