Pirates at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds haven't been a part of the National League Central race since early in the first half, but they may have found some motivation down the stretch. The Reds will try to pull off a three-game sweep and move one game closer to getting out of the NL Central basement when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Cincinnati (65-84) is just three games behind the Pirates (68-81), who are fading fast with losses in four straight and nine of their last 10. Offense is the big problem for Pittsburgh, which failed to score against rookie Sal Romano through eight innings on Saturday and ended up with a 2-1 loss - the 13th straight loss in which it scored three or fewer runs. The Reds aren't lighting up the scoreboard either, but they can find the power when necessary and own five solo home runs among their six runs scored so far in the series. Pirates ace Gerrit Cole already surrendered 28 home runs this season and gets the call in the finale against Cincinnati right-hander Robert Stephenson.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (11-10, 4.04 ERA) vs. Reds RH Robert Stephenson (4-5, 5.45)
Cole can't seem to find any consistency of late and sandwiched two scoreless outings around three starts in which he surrendered five runs over his last five turns. The former No. 1 overall pick scattered two hits over eight scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sep. 6 but was ripped for five runs on seven hits in six innings at Milwaukee on Tuesday. Cole showed off that inconsistency in back-to-back starts against the Reds, tossing seven scoreless frames on Aug. 26 before yielding five runs in six innings on Sep. 1.
Stephenson had a string of four consecutive wins come to an end at St. Louis on Tuesday, when he was reached for six runs - four earned - on five hits and three walks. Walks are a problem for the 24-year-old, who issued 18 free passes in 25 2/3 innings over his last five turns. Stephenson walked four against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25 but struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs while earning a win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates LF Starling Marte (finger, shoulder) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.
2. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez is 1-for-10 with seven strikeouts in his last three contests.
3. Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen homered in three of the last five games.