Pirates at Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon provided the explanation point on a series victory against the Cincinnati Reds last month with a one-hit shutout. Mired in a seven-start winless skid, Taillon will take the mound as the visiting Pirates (26-20) bid to snap a three-game losing streak heading into Tuesday's opener of a three-game series against the Reds (16-32) at Great American Ball Park.
Taillon struck out seven as Pittsburgh breezed to a 5-0 romp of Cincinnati on April 8, claiming three of four in the series while outscoring its National League Central rival by a 28-12 margin. Josh Harrison went 6-for-15 with four runs scored in that series and returned from over a month-long absence due to a hand injury to collect three hits in Sunday's 8-5 setback versus San Diego. Pittsburgh aims to continue its dominance against its own division as it sports a 10-3 mark heading into Tuesday's tilt with Cincinnati, which is at the other end of the spectrum with a 4-18 record versus NL Central rivals. The Reds didn't help themselves in that regard as they were outscored 16-1 over the final two games of a series in which they dropped three of four versus the Chicago Cubs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (2-3, 3.97 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (0-2, 6.17)
Taillon was open to suggestion as he works his way through a recovery from a lacerated middle finger, so much so that he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he would let teammates urinate on the digit if it served to help the cause. While there was no immediate word on whether that situation occurred, the 26-year-old saw his winless skid extend to seven outings (0-3) on Wednesday after allowing a pair of solo homers and three walks over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Chicago White Sox. Scott Schebler (1-for-13), Eugenio Suarez (2-for-15) and Joey Votto (3-for-19) have been flummoxed by Taillon, although Scooter Gennett (8-for-22) and Billy Hamilton (7-for-20) have flustered the right-hander.
Harvey has worked a pair of four-inning outings since being acquired from the New York Mets, but saw his run of no-decisions extend to six on Wednesday after allowing three runs on seven hits at San Francisco. "It's been a while since I've felt stronger throughout a game, so getting up toward 80 pitches and still feeling strong and noticing the ball coming out the way it was it's definitely a big positive," the 29-year-old told reporters. Harrison (5-for-8) and Josh Bell (3-for-6, homer) have gotten their licks in on Harvey, who has split a pair of decisions despite posting a robust 5.46 ERA in five career meetings with Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Votto had two of his team's three hits on Sunday after being mired in a 2-for-14 stretch with five strikeouts over his previous five games.
2. Pittsburgh CF Austin Meadows acquitted himself well in his first major league series, going 5-for-11 with a homer and two RBIs.
3. Reds LF Adam Duvall went just 1-for-15 in the previous series versus the Pirates, albeit the hit left the park.