Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati   Results, Match Player Stats & Records

The Pirates open a four-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds and face starting pitcher Rhett Lowder -- a righty -- on Thursday after losing two straight and five of their last seven outings.

Pittsburgh is coming off a dismal 3-0 setback Wednesday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez. A first-time All-Star this season, Rodriguez threw eight innings, yielding five hits and one walk with two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.48.

The loss meant the Pirates have dropped five straight to left-handed starters to fall to 9-23 against southpaws this season.

"We've got to be better and try to find different ways to do that," Pirates manager Don Kelly said of struggles against lefty starters. "I know the hitting group is working with the guys on different approaches and trying to figure it out."

Kelly's squad lost ground in the National League wild-card race and sits two games out of the final spot. Philadelphia and Arizona, the latter having just beaten the Pirates in two of three in Pittsburgh, are tied for second behind the Chicago Cubs.

"And two of those losses were extra-inning games that we were right there," Kelly said of the Arizona series after Wednesday's defeat. "I think that the fight that this team has shown, not just in this homestand and specifically in this series, coming back the first night, finding a way last night to come back. Today was frustrating. The fight is there, and we're right there. We just need to continue to do the little things that we need to do to get over the hump and win those close games, win the games against these teams."

The Pirates are pushing back their starting rotation for a day in the series against the Reds. Yohan Ramirez (6-3, 3.21 ERA, one save) will serve as the opener on Thursday in a bullpen game.

Ramirez is making his first major league start in his 209th career game since his debut for the Seattle Mariners in 2020. The right-hander has a career record of 15-15 with eight saves, a 4.39 ERA in 258 1/3 innings.

A sloppy defensive performance and a short outing from Brady Singer cost the Reds a home series against the Cleveland Guardians.

In Wednesday's 6-1 loss, shortstop Elly De La Cruz's error opened the fifth and was followed by Edwin Arroyo being late to cover second base on what was ruled a fielder's choice, helping set up Cleveland's decisive four-run inning.

Since being called up to the big-league club on June 1, second baseman Arroyo is hitting .244 with three doubles, a triple and five RBIs.

"Sometimes the game is going fast and guys are trying to do what they think is right," said Reds manager Terry Francona about Arroyo. "We knew that things were coming at him quickly. But I think this has been good for him. He's not the finished product and, hopefully, this will help him."

Singer lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday as he was removed after consecutive bases-loaded walks in the fifth.

The Reds will turn to Lowder (3-7, 5.61) to get off to a better start against their NL Central rivals. Lowder received a no-decision in Friday's 4-2 victory at St. Louis after allowing two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

After going winless over his previous 12 starts (0-6), Lowder turned in one of his better outings of the season. He retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing the only hit of his outing with two outs in the fifth inning.

In two career starts against Pittsburgh, he is 1-1 with an 11.37 ERA, five walks and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. He had a horrid start on May 2, allowing eight earned runs, while retiring only four Pirates.

"You've just got to stay on your process," said Lowder. "You don't always get the results you want, but you've just got to stick with it."

--Field Level Media