Gamethread: Nova tries to stop the bleeding in Cincinnati

Ivan Nova (11-10, 3.81) will have to limit the baserunners in the Great American Bandbox so that any homers allowed will only be solo, as he faces the Reds’ hard throwing right-hander Robert Stephenson (1-4, 6.13), who’ll be making his fifth start of the year and second against the Pirates. In three games total Stephenson has allowed the Bucs 5 runs in 10 ¹⁄₃ innings, with 5 walks and 10 strikeouts.

Francisco Cervelli returns to the lineup while Andrew McCutchen sits this one out in favor of John Jaso, who’ll play rightfield.

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PIRATES

1 R Starling Marte, CF

2 L Adam Frazier, LF

3 R Josh Harrison, 2B

4 S Josh Bell, 1B

5 R David Freese, 3B

6 L John Jaso, RF

7 R Francisco Cervelli, C

8 R Jordy Mercer, SS

9 R Ivan Nova, RHP

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REDS (HR’s)

1 S Billy Hamilton, CF - 3

2 R Zach Cozart, SS - 17

3 L Joey Votto, 1B - 33

4 R Adam Duvall, LF - 29

5 L Scooter Gennett, 2B - 22

6 R Eugenio Suarez, 3B - 24

7 L Scott Schebler, RF - 24

8 S Tucker Barnhart, C - 5

9 R Robert Stephenson, RHP - 0