Reds vs. Pirates: RHP Mike Leake vs. RHP Edinson Volquez

Cincinnati Reds (65-69) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (69-64)

RHP Mike Leake (10-11, 3.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .260 OAV) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (11-7, 3.56 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, .251 OAV)

Friday, August 29, 2014: 7:10 p.m. at PNC Park

As steady as the sun rising in the east has been Mike Leake in 2014. Arguably, Leake has been the Reds most consistent starter all season long, even if he has allowed hits in bunches at times.

His start on Friday night will be his fourth against Pittsburgh this season. In all three prior starts, he went at least six innings and allowed at least three runs, which is about right on par with where Leake has been his entire career against the Bucs.

In 18 career starts (most against any club), Leake is 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA. Unfortunately for him, all three of those losses, and only one win came while pitching in PNC Park. Leake is one of the few Reds pitchers to not completely thrive while pitching in the Steel City.

Here is the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account:

3B – Josh Harrison (3-for-9, 1 HR, 1 RBI)

RF – Jose Tabata (7-for-23, 2 2B’s, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3 K’s)

CF – Andrew McCutchen (13-for-48, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB’s, 11 K’s)

2B – Neil Walker (11-for-35, 4 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB’s, 6 K’s)

C – Russell Martin (10-for-27, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 K’s)

1B – Ike Davis (3-for-14, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

LF – Starling Marte (4-for-17, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 K’s)

SS – Jordy Mercer (3-for-9, 1 2B, 1 RBI)

P – Edinson Volquez (0-for-1)

On the verge of his best season since with Cincinnati back in 2008, Edinson Volquez has finally pieced it together. On a nightly basis, fans still do not know which Volquez will show up—the one that possesses no-hit stuff and could throw a complete game shutout, or the one that cannot find the strike zone and exits the game in the second inning with his team in a six-run hole.

The Reds have seen both sides of Volquez so far in 2014. Back on April 22, even though he picked up the loss, the dominant Volquez showed up. Pitching seven innings and allowing just two runs on five hits, Volquez nailed down what would be his third consecutive quality start. His next go round against the Redlegs took place on June 18, and it was a nightmare. Yielding eight earned runs while recording just seven outs, Volquez earned himself the loss that night, allowing the Redlegs to coast to an 11-4 victory.

Having made five career starts against the Reds, he still possesses a 5.86 ERA and has walked 15 batters in just 27.2 innings pitched. Control has been such a vital aspect to Edinson’s arsenal ever since he worked with pitching coach Dick Pole. While he has not mastered it this season, and he very well may never, Volquez has transformed himself into a pitcher the Pirates can rely on.

Here is the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account:

CF – Billy Hamilton (1-for-5, 2 K’s)

1B – Todd Frazier (3-for-10, 2 K’s)

2B – Brandon Phillips (2-for-12, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB’s)

C – Devin Mesoraco (1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB’s, 2 K’s)

RF – Jay Bruce (6-for-11, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB’s, 2 K’s)

3B – Kristopher Negron (yet to face Volquez)

LF – Skip Schumaker (5-for-17, 3 2B’s, 4 RBI, 5 BB’s)

SS – Zack Cozart (3-for-13, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 K’s)

P – Mike Leake (yet to face Volquez)

Mike Leake’s last time on the hill was a dazzling effort. With the Redlegs virtually needing a sweep in Pittsburgh to keep their already slim playoff hopes alive, it will have to start with Leake against a familiar foe at 7:10 p.m. Friday night.