Game time: 1:35PM ET
Probable starters:
CIN: Dan Straily (6-6, 3.80 ERA)
PIT: Gerrit Cole (7-6, 2.73 ERA)
The Reds and Pirates conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, with Pittsburgh looking to sweep and continue to gain in the National League Wild Card race.
Reds right-hander Dan Straily (6-6, 3.80 ERA) will make his 24th appearance and 21st start of the season. It will be his seventh career appearance and fourth start vs the Pirates, as well as his fourth appearance at PNC Park. Opponents are hitting just .208 against Straily, seventh-best in the National League.
Straily leads the Reds in innings pitched, strikeouts and quality starts with 13. He began Spring Training with the Astros and on March 28 was traded to the Padres for catcher Erik Kratz. On April 1, he was claimed off waivers by the Reds.
"He has, simply put, been our most consistent starting pitcher from the time he went into our rotation to the present," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Anthony DeSclafani has been excellent, but he hasn't been with us all year. Straily's ability to give us consistency and take the ball every fifth day, stay healthy, to compete into the sixth and seventh inning, sometimes longer, has been significant for a team that really had some first-half struggles from a pitching perspective."
The Pirates will send out right-hander Gerrit Cole (7-6, 2.73 ERA) for his 17th start of the season. His last start was a 5-3 win over Mike Foltynewicz in Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits over five innings.
Cole is 0-5 with a 5.30 ERA in seven career starts against the Reds. He is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in one start this season.
Things to know about this game
• The Orioles (six), Reds and Blue Jays (five) are the only teams in the Major Leagues with at least five players with at least 15 home runs.
• Andrew McCutchen stole his 158th career base Friday night, tying him with Hall of Famer Pie Traynor for 10th place on the Pirates' all-time list. McCutchen (158 steals, 166 homers) and Barry Bonds (251 steals, 176 homers) are the only two players in franchise history with at least 150 steals and homers.
• This will be the last of a brief three-game stretch against National League Central opposition for the Pirates. They will play their next 15 contests against teams outside the division until they head to Milwaukee on Aug. 25, which starts a 17-game stretch against NL Central foes.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201608061 ... _pk=448522
My notes:
- Contrary to popular belief, and my feelings a few days ago, the Bucs aren't dead and even after that disastrous road trip, are still in the WC hunt.
- Thanks to Ivan Nova for some nice pitching last night.
- Gerrit Cole has put together a string of some real fine outings. Please keep it going Gerrit, because the Bucs need it.
- CUTCH WATCH: Last night - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, Season - .241 BA, .314 OBP, .719 OPS, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 4 SB
- FUCK THE REDS!
BEAT 'EM BUCS!!!
