Keller vs the Reds at PNC

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates begin a three game series at 7:05 p.m. Eastern on Friday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, with Reds’ right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (8-7, 4.40) facing the Pirates’ rookie right-handed prospect Mitch Keller (1-2, 8.86)

DeSclafani will be making his third start of the year against the Pirates, having dropped both earlier games by scores of 7-5 and 7-2, giving up a total of nine runs in ten innings on fifteen hits, including three home runs.

DeSclafani has continued to show pronounced platoon splits, allowing a 938 OPS to left-handed batters on a 296/375/563 line that includes 16 home runs and 30 walks in 273 plate appearances, while he is much tougher against right-handers, with a 640 OPS on a 228/258/382 line, and 9 home runs and only 9 walks in 254 PA’s. The Pirates lineup has four batters who will hit from the left side against DeSclafani.

Keller, who be making his sixth major league start, debuted in Cincinnati on May 27, allowing six runs in the very first inning. He was recalled the third time in early August, beating the Angels in Anaheim then losing to the Cubs in Williamsport.

The Reds lineup has many changes since the last time the two teams met. Freddy Galvis was obtained from Toronto and two rookies, Josh van Meter and Aristides Aquino man the outfield corners.

The right-handed batting Aquino has hit eleven home runs in his first twenty major league games, after hitting 28 in 78 games for Triple-A Louisville.

Derek Dietrich, who has hit seven of his nineten home runs against the Pirates, returns to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 4, when he went on the Injured List with shoulder inflammation, replacing Joey Votto at first base.

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REDS

1 L Josh van Meter LF

2 S Freddy Galvis 2B

3 R Eugenio Suarez 3B

4 R Aristides Aquino RF

5 S Tucker Barnhart C

6 R Jose Iglesias SS

7 L Derek Dietrich 1B

8 R Nick Senzel CF

9 R Anthony DeSclafani RHP

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PIRATES

1 R Kevin Newman SS

2 S Bryan Reynolds LF

3 R Starling Marte CF

4 S Josh Bell 1B

5 L Colin Moran 3B

6 R Jose Osuna RF

7 L Adam Frazier 2B

8 R Jacob Stallings C

9 R Mitch Keller RHP