The Cincinnati Reds (60-68) will try to avoid being swept by the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates (54-75). The Pirates have not won three straight games since July 1-3, and they have not swept a series since late June.
Starting Pitchers
Trevor Bauer is coming off a very good start against the Padres: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K. It was a great rebound from the disaster start in DC. The Pirates are a team that Bauer should be able to dominate as they have the second worst BB% in the NL at 7.0%. Bauer should be able to exploit their lack of plate discipline and rack up some strikeouts. Bauer has a 1.35 ERA in 2 career starts against the Pirates with 13 K and 3 BB in 13.1 IP.
Dario Agrazal was born in Panama and was signed as an international free agent in 2012. He was DFA’d before the season began, but cleared waivers. He throws a ton of strikes and has a career 1.3 BB/9 throughout his minor league career. The Reds faced him once this season (on the day of the trade deadline following the crazy theatrics of the night before) and hit him well: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 HR, 0 BB, 5 K).
Starting Lineups
| Reds | Pirates |
| 1. Josh VanMeter (LF) 2. Freddy Galvis (2B) 3. Eugenio Suarez (3B) 4. Aristides Aquino (RF) 5. Jose Iglesias (SS) 6. Derek Dietrich (1B) 7. Curt Casali (C) 8. Phillip Ervin (CF) 9. Trevor Bauer (P) |
1. Kevin Newman (SS) 2. Bryan Reynolds (LF) 3. Starling Marte (CF) 4. Josh Bell (1B) 5. Colin Moran (3B) 6. Jose Osuna (RF) 7. Adam Frazier (2B) 8. Elias Diaz (C) 9. Dario Agrazal (P) |
Conclusion
When the Reds finally do put it together for a full season again, dark days like yesterday will make it all the sweeter. Go Reds.