Series Preview: Reds Return to PNC Park... More Drama to Come?

The Cincinnati Reds come to PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game weekend series starting Friday night. The last time these two teams met was at the end of July leading up to the Trade Deadline when a fight broke out at Great American Ball Park. In case you forgot, Amir Garrett charged the entire Pirates dugout, David Bell came sprinting out of the clubhouse (he was already ejected) to throw haymakers, and Yasiel Puig fought for a team that he was no longer on (he was traded to the Indians).

Since then, the Pirates have continued their slump, losing 13 of their next 19 games. Meanwhile, the Reds have found a bit of a groove with their younger lineup, and are six games below .500 on the season.

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Schedule

Friday, 7:05 p.m. - Mitch Keller (1-2, 8.86) vs Anthony DeSclafani (8-7, 4.40)

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. - Trevor Williams (5-6, 5.65) vs Alex Wood (1-2, 5.92)

TSunday, 7:05 p.m. - vs Sunday, 1:35 p.m. - TBD vs Trevor Bauer (10-10, 4.06)

All games are televised on AT&T SportsNet-PIT. All games in Eastern Time.

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Reds Notes

Hitters

• The big story for the Reds offense these days is young outfielder and clean-up hitter Aristides Aquino. Since being called up on August 1st, the kid has 11 home runs and is hitting .313 in 67 major league at-bats. He’s been cemented in the clean-up role of late, and while he’s cooled down over the past week or so, there is still loads of sustainable power to all fields in that bat.
• Shortstop Jose Iglesias has also been a bit of a bright spot offensively for Cincinnati of late. In 16 August games, the defensive-minded 29-year-old is hitting .393 with five doubles, a triple, two homers, and a stolen base. He’ll look to solidify his starting job in the Reds Organization for 2020 over the next month or so.

Pitchers

• The Reds are expected to throw DeSclafani, Wood, and Bauer at the Buccos over the course of the three-game series. DeSclafani has pitched as you’d expect over the past handful of starts, failing to reach six innings since July 21st.
• Wood will be making just his sixth start this season due to injury, and he’s been very hittable. The lefty has allowed 33 hits and 16 earned runs in just 24.1 innings of work.
• Lastly, Bauer has had two GREAT starts, one bad start, and one REALLY bad start in his four outings as a Red thus far. When he’s on, he’s racking up double-digit strikeouts over seven or eight innings. But when he’s off (like he’s been way too much this season) he can allow too much hard contact, a few homers, and some crooked numbers.