Reds at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking advantage of the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds to get back to .500 and start making some noise in the National League Central. The Pirates will try to continue their ascent up the standings and polish off a three-game sweep when they host the Reds for the finale on Sunday.
Saturday's win clinched a series victory for Pittsburgh, which dropped its previous eight sets. "If somebody would have told me you're going to lose eight series, you'd think you're going to be horrible," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "We're not horrible. We're fighting. And we believe that our best baseball is in front of us. You've got to go play it, though." The Reds won three straight before heading to Pittsburgh and scoring a total of four runs in the first two games of the series. Cincinnati will try to provide more support on Sunday for Anthony DeSclafani who opposes fellow right-hander Joe Musgrove.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (2-1, 2.16)
DeSclafani is making his third start this season and surrendered 16 hits along with three walks over 10 innings in his first two outings. The 28-year-old struck out six and earned a win last Sunday against St. Louis despite allowing three runs - two earned - and 10 hits across five innings. DeSclafani is making his seventh start against the Pirates and went 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in the first six.
Musgrove turned in a quality start at Arizona on Monday but could not come away with a decision after allowing three runs - two earned - and five hits over six innings. The 25-year-old owns 23 strikeouts and five walks over 25 total innings in four starts. Musgrove, who came to the National League over the winter in a trade from the Houston Astros, is seeing the Reds for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 1B Joey Votto is 1-for-12 over the last three games, dropping his batting average to .298.
2. Cincinnati is 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position in the series.
3. Pittsburgh 3B Colin Moran scored a run in each of his last four games.