Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2011 ) Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 5
THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ chance of reaching the postseason likely vanished earlier this month when a 10-game losing streak realistically knocked them out of contention in the National League Central. Pittsburgh, however, still has a shot at ending the longest stretch of futility in North American sports history. The Pirates will try to move closer to a .500-or-better mark by securing a second straight series win on Sunday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Pittsburgh has won eight of the 11 meetings with the Reds this season.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH James McDonald (8-6, 4.20 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (10-8, 4.00 ERA).
McDonald has won eight of his last 12 decisions. The righthander, who leads the team with 110 strikeouts, is 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break. He’s allowed just one run over his last 13 innings against the Reds, winning both starts. McDonald is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in six starts versus Cincinnati. Brandon Phillips is 4-for-9 against McDonald.
Leake allowed more than three runs for the first time in five starts on Tuesday, when he was blasted for five earned runs in six innings of a 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals. Leake has received an average of 5.19 runs per game, the highest total among Reds’ starters. He is 1-2 with a 2.01 ERA in five starts versus Pittsburgh.
ABOUT THE PIRATES (59-65): The Pirates (51-44) were a season-high seven games above .500 following a win over Cincinnati on July 19, but they have dropped 20 of 28 since then. The Pirates have still surpassed last season’s win total (57) and have a shot at their first winning season since 1992. Pittsburgh agreed to terms with right fielder Jose Tabata on a six-year extension on Friday. The deal also includes a three-year option that will keep Tabata in Pittsburgh in 2020. Tabata is hitting .267 with four homers and 17 RBIs. Lefthander Paul Maholm was placed on the disabled list Friday with strained shoulder. It is the first stint on the DL for the seven-year veteran, who is 0-5 since the All-Star break.
ABOUT THE REDS (61-65): The Reds’ season can be summed up by their play over the last week. Cincinnati has lost four of six following a four-game winning streak. It is that type of inconsistency that has plagued the team all season. The defending NL Central champions went more than a month without winning consecutive games (June 14-15; July 23-24). Cincinnati leads the majors with 20 one-run losses. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto has four homers in the last 10 games. Phillips is 10-for-18 since being moved to the leadoff spot.
FINAL PITCH: "No (air conditioning), no lights. I think somebody was in my room. I was scared. They had some Blair Witch stuff going on.” - Phillips, on arriving in Pittsburgh Friday morning in the wake a severe thunderstorm.