Pirates at Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won a season-high six in a row and eight of nine to propel themselves back in the mix in the National League Central. The Pirates (48-49) look to continue their ascent on Friday when they begin a six-game road trip through the Buckeye State with the opener of a three-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds (43-53).
"While we've closed ground in the division, we've closed ground in the wild card, we've had a great week against really good teams, we need to do more and we need to continue to play this way," Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington told reporters. Josh Bell belted a walk-off two-run double in the 10th inning in the Pirates' 7-6 win over Milwaukee on Sunday to give him seven hits and four RBIs over his last four games. While Pittsburgh resides in fourth place despite its hot play, Cincinnati remains in the cellar despite posting an NL-best 21-10 mark since June 10. Adam Duvall, who had a two-run single in Sunday's 6-4 setback to St. Louis, is a paltry 2-for-32 against the Pirates this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (6-7, 3.91 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tyler Mahle (7-7, 4.02)
Taillon improved to 4-3 with a 3.29 ERA in his last nine starts after striking out a career-high 10 batters in a 6-3 win versus Milwaukee on July 12. The 26-year-old split a pair of decisions against Cincinnati this season, with a one-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory on April 8 answered by a six-run effort over six innings in a 7-2 setback on May 22. Cincinnati native Scooter Gennett, who belted a grand slam in the latter contest, has tormented Taillon to the tune of going 10-for-25 with five extra-base hits (four doubles, homer) and seven RBIs.
Mahle tasted defeat for the first time in nearly two months on July 11 after getting shredded for a career-worst seven runs on six hits over a season-low 2 1/3 innings of a 19-4 loss at Cleveland. The 23-year-old likely doesn't have fond memories of his last start against Pittsburgh, as he permitted five runs on nine hits - including two homers - in 4 2/3 frames of a 5-0 setback on April 8. Gregory Polanco and Corey Dickerson each homered in that contest against Mahle, with the latter going 15-for-39 with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, triple, homer) this season versus the Reds.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez is 12-for-36 with four homers and 14 RBIs against Pittsburgh this season.
2. Pirates CF Starling Marte has four homers, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored during his 12-game hitting streak.
3. Reds OF Scott Schebler was placed on the disabled list after sustaining a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder while colliding with the wall in Saturday's win over St. Louis.