Series Preview: Pirates at Reds

For the third time in a little less than a month, and the fourth in a little more than that, it’s Pirates-Reds!

While this matchup would have been exciting in 1975, seeing so much of these teams as the 2017 fades away isn’t doing a whole lot for people. But meaningless baseball is better than no baseball. You wouldn’t be a Pirates fan (or at least not the bandwagon-jumping kind) if you didn’t feel that way.

Since we last checked in the Reds swept the Brewers, lost three of four to the Mets, then lost two of three in St. Louis.

The Pirates (68-79) lost two of three in Milwaukee this week.

Season Series: 10-6 Reds

At Pittsburgh

April 10: Reds 7, Pirates 1

April 11: Reds 6, Pirates 2

April 12: Reds 9, Pirates 2

At Cincinnati

May 1: Reds 4, Pirates 3, 10 innings

May 2: Pirates 12, Reds 3

May 3: Reds 7, Pirates 2

May 4: Reds 4, Pirates 2

At Pittsburgh

August 1: Reds 9, Pirates 1

August 2: Reds 5, Pirates 2

August 3: Pirates 6, Reds 0

At Cincinnati

August 25: Reds 9, Pirates 5

August 26: Pirates 1, Reds 0

August 27: Pirates 5, Reds 2

At Pittsburgh

September 1: Reds 7, Pirates 3

September 2: Pirates 5, Reds 0

September 3: Pirates 3, Reds 1

Schedule

Friday, 7:10 p.m. - Chad Kuhl (7-10, 4.21 ERA) vs. Homer Bailey (4-8, 7.26), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. - Ivan Nova (11-13, 4.25) vs. Sal Romano (4-6, 4.54), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. - Gerrit Cole (11-10, 4.04) vs. Robert Stephenson (4-5, 5.45), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Reds

63-84 (65-82 Pythag, 4.75 RS/G, 5.43 RA/G)

Players that Interest Me

Phillip Ervin, OF: A 2013 first-round pick, Ervin was routinely ranked high on Reds prospect lists a few years ago, but he’s moved slowly and never really hit for average. He’s up in the majors this year for the first time with very little hype, but there’s still something there, with some pop and speed, and a nice, cozy hitters park to play in. Ervin hasn’t played a ton, but he’s the type of guy you’d like to find out more about in September. He’s posted a .316/.381/.526 line with two homers in 43 plate appearances.

Jesse Winker, OF: Winker hasn’t quite lost the luster that Ervin has, though his home-run power deserted him in Triple-A, bringing some pause. It appears a wrist injury had a good bit to do with that, though, and Winker has five homers (as many as he hit in Triple-A the last two years combined) in 95 Major League plate appearances this season. He’s got a .293/.389/.512 line.

Raisel Iglesias, RHP: Iglesias was a rising starter until he was derailed by injuries. Now he’s a good, young closer pumping 96 MPH. With Iglesias signed to an affordable deal through 2020, the Reds can hold him in hopes for better days, or be patient for a nice trade haul.

Injury Notes

Scooter Gennett missed the last two games with inflammation in his left hand. Billy Hamilton is on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured left thumb, opening up more at-bats for Winker and Ervin.