Pirates at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds might be a little short on wins as they sit in the basement of the National League Central, but their lineup is long on power. The Reds will try to use the long ball to draw one game closer to getting out of the basement when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Cincinnati (64-84) pounded out four solo home runs in a 4-2 win in Friday's series opener, which pulled it within four games of the Pirates (68-80) for fourth place in the Central. The Reds, who got a pair of home runs from Zack Cozart and one each from Joey Votto and Scott Schebler, are up to 204 home runs on the season - led by Votto's 35. The Pirates were postseason contenders a month ago but are in a deep fade as the season winds down and dropped three straight and eight of their last nine. Pittsburgh, which failed to score more than three runs in any of those last eight losses, will try to generate some offense against Reds rookie Sal Romano and support right-hander Ivan Nova on Saturday.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (11-13, 4.25 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sal Romano (4-6, 4.54)
Nova is struggling through the second half and is 2-7 with a 6.62 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for five runs in as many innings in a loss at St. Louis on Sunday - the sixth time in the last nine starts that he yielded at least four earned runs. Nova was knocked around for seven runs - five earned - on eight hits and three walks over five innings in a loss at Cincinnati on Aug. 25.
Romano allowed eight hits in five innings at the New York Mets on Sunday but limited the damage to two runs while striking out six in a no-decision. The 23-year-old rookie surrendered three or fewer runs in each of his last five outings, with the lone loss in that span coming at Pittsburgh on Sep. 3. Two of Romano’s losses have come at Pittsburgh, with the Pirates knocking him around for a total of six runs - five earned - in 11 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Votto needs three home runs to surpass his career high of 37 set in 2010.
2. Pittsburgh 3B David Freese recorded 14 strikeouts in his last seven games.
3. Cincinnati closer Raisel Iglesias worked multiple innings in each of his last three appearances, totaling 5 2/3 frames.