Reds vs Pirates - 5/12/21

Cincinnati Reds (16-17) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (15-20), May 12, 2021 @ 12:35 p.m.

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: KDKA FM (93.7 The Fan)

Reds SB Nation Site: Red Reporter

Projected Starters

Pirates - Trevor Cahill (1-4, 6.75 ERA, 26 K)

Reds - Sonny Gray (0-2, 3.92 ERA, 31 K)

Projected Starting Lineups (subject to change)

Pirates

1. Ka’ai Tom (LF)
2. Kevin Newman (SS)
3. Phillip Evans (1B)
4. Gregory Polanco (RF)
5. Erik Gonzalez (3B)
6. Wilmer Difo (2B)
7. Ben Gamel (CF)
8. Michael Perez (C)
9. Trevor Cahill (P)

Reds

1. Nick Senzel (2B)
2. Jesse Winker (LF)
3. Nick Castellanos (RF)
4. Mike Moustakas (1B)
5. Tyler Naquin (CF)
6. Eugenio Suarez (3B)
7. Tyler Stephenson (C)
8. Kyle Farmer (SS)
9. Sonny Gray (P)

The Pirates and the Reds square off at PNC Park this afternoon to decide the three-game series, which has been the epitome of seesawing.

After the Reds handed them a 14-1 beatdown on Monday night, the Pirates answered with a 7-2 victory last night. JT Brubaker was solid, and there were a couple of firsts for the Bucs. Adam Frazier got his first cannonball of the year (and continues his hitting streak, now at 12), and Troy Stokes, Jr. got his first MLB hits and RBIs in front of his well-traveled family. Stokes also continued his excellent play in right field. Both of them are off today as Derek Shelton shuffles the lineup yet again. Trevor Cahill takes the mound today, despite proof that one can only give up singles but still get his butt handed to him as he did against the Cubs last Friday.

On the other hand, the Reds’ lineup stays nearly identical to what David Bell’s been bringing all series, except for Tyler Stephenson's spelling of catcher Tucker Barnhart. Sonny Gray gets the call to the hill. He hasn’t pitched since April 28th against the Dodgers, where he turned in an 11-strikeout performance. However, he gave up two runs, and the final score was 8-0 Dodgers. It’s safe to say that Sonny didn’t buy beers for his battery after that game.

It’s time to goof off at work and take in weekday daytime baseball. The game thread is open, the GIFs are at the ready, and, as always, LET’S GO BUCS!