Reds at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are happy to be back home after a disappointing road trip that saw them drop four of six against playoff contenders the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pirates, who come home with a little momentum after avoiding a sweep with a 5-4 victory at Arizona on Wednesday, will open the 10-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Pittsburgh is only two games under .500 and believes it can get into the race with the Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. "That's what it takes - momentum," Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer, who homered Wednesday, told reporters after the victory. "Get guys to believe in here, and who knows, we can rattle off a stretch there where we're right back in it. I think that's the biggest thing. We've got a lot of season left. We haven't got hot yet. I feel like we need to get hot and win eight, nine, 10 in a row, then we'll see what happens." The Reds are sitting in the NL Central basement but are showing some fight with wins in three straight games, highlighted by a pitching staff that surrendered a total of four runs in those contests. Right-hander Matt Harvey will try to keep that Cincinnati staff rolling Friday while the Pirates counter with righty Chad Kuhl.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (1-4, 5.97 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (4-4, 3.95)
Harvey was knocked around in each of his last three starts but did not factor in the decision against St. Louis last Friday while serving up five runs on four hits - three homers - and three walks in six innings. The Connecticut native surrendered a total of seven home runs in 30 1/3 innings over his first six starts for Cincinnati, with which he owns a 5.04 ERA. Harvey's best start with the Reds was his third on May 22, when he held the Pirates to one run and three hits in six innings to earn a win.
Kuhl allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts but does not own a win in that span. The 25-year-old yielded eight hits and walked a pair in 5 1/3 innings at the Cubs last Friday but struck out six and limited the damage to three runs in a loss. Kuhl cruised at Cincinnati on May 23, when he surrendered one run and five hits in six innings while striking out six without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mercer doubled and scored in each of the last three games and owns four RBIs in that span.
2. Cincinnati RHP Jared Hughes enjoyed his 15th consecutive scoreless appearance on Wednesday.
3. Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli returned to the lineup Wednesday following a three-game absence after being hit with a foul ball in the mask and went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.