Gamethread: Pirates try again not to embarrass themselves against last-place Reds

The Pirates take on the Reds at 6:40pm ET in the Mediocre American Ballpark. Gerrit Cole will face a team he’s never beaten in nine career starts; he’s 0-6, 5.14 against them. They’re the only team he’s faced more than one time that he hasn’t beaten. The Pirates will be facing a guy they’ve never seen before, 24-year-old rookie Luis Castillo. With a 3.45 ERA and 3.86 xFIP, he’s the one starter the Reds have who hasn’t been really bad. Their rotation has a 5.99 ERA, which is all the more mind-numbing given the way they’ve manhandled the Pirates’ anemic lineup this year. So Castillo will be a totally new experience for them.

Pirates

1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Josh Harrison, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Adam Frazier, LF
7. Jordy Mercer, SS
8. Chris Stewart, C
9. Gerrit Cole, P

Reds

1. Billy Hamilton, CF
2. Jose Peraza, SS
3. Joey Votto, 1B
4. Adam Duvall, LF
5. Scooter Gennett, 2B
6. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
7. Scott Schebler, RF
8. Tucker Barnett, C
9. Luis Castillo, P