Reds vs. Pirates: RHP Johnny Cueto vs. LHP Francisco Liriano

Cincinnati Reds (65-71) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (71-64)

RHP Johnny Cueto (15-8, 2.26 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .191 OAV) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (3-10, 3.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .230 OAV)

Sunday, August 31, 2014: 1:35 p.m. at PNC Park

After his first inning of work on Sunday, Johnny Cueto will eclipse the 200-inning mark on the season. He is currently the National League leader in innings pitched, a stat that any sane Reds fans would have signed up for at the beginning of the season. Enjoying his best season as a professional, the timing is perfect for Cueto who is a year away from free agency, and heading into an off-season where the Redlegs may be in a position where they have to ship him off.

Cueto has faced the Pirates four times already in 2014, with the Reds coming out on top in each encounter. The first two back in April were complete game gems, with the latter two taking place on June 17 and July 13 to the tune of solid quality starts. His next strikeout will also be his 200^th of the season, but in two combined starts in Pittsburgh this year, Cueto has struck out just six batters in 15 innings of work.

The combination of Cueto facing the Pirates in Pittsburgh in the daytime is about as sure a bet as there is. For his career, Cueto’s ERA is 1.88 in 15 starts at PNC Park. His afternoon ERA is 2.47 over 69 starts for the entirety of his career.

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

3B – Josh Harrison (4-for-10, 2 2B, 2 RBI)

RF – Andrew Lambo (yet to face Cueto)

CF – Andrew McCutchen (15-for-53, 4 2B’s, 1 3B, 4 HR’s, 6 RBI, 7 BB’s, 9 K’s)

2B – Neil Walker (7-for-40, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB’s, 7 K’s)

1B – Ike Davis (3-for-17, 1 2B, 6 K’s)

LF – Starling Marte (2-for-17, 1 2B, 4 K’s)

SS – Jordy Mercer (4-for-16, 2 K’s)

C – Chris Stewart (2-for-3)

P – Francisco Liriano (1-for-5)

This very same vaunted pitching matchup presents itself yet again. No matter how many times Cueto may serve to beat Liriano during the regular season, the game that took place last October in the Steel City will still serve as Liriano’s shining moment in black and gold.

Coming off his second Comeback Player of the Year Award, Liriano has set himself up nicely for a third shot at that honor, having a down year in 2014. His problem is quite obviously the walks, having put 60 men on base via the walk in just 124.1 innings of work. In comparison, he had 63 in 161 innings last year. Yet, walks have always crippled Liriano, even when he has been at his best.

Liriano’s last time out against the Reds back on July 13 was one of his weaker starts on the season. Walking six batters in just four innings of work, he was lucky to escape with only four runs crossing the plate.

In the regular season, Liriano still yet to defeat the Reds, owning a career mark of 0-5 with a 4.25 ERA in seven starts.

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

CF – Billy Hamilton (2-for-7, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB’s, 1 K)

3B – Kristopher Negron (1-for-2, 1 HR, 3 RBI)

2B – Brandon Phillips (5-for-22, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K’s)

1B – Todd Frazier (6-for-20, 2 2B’s, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB’s, 7 K’s)

C – Brayan Pena (5-for-20, 3 RBI, 4 K’s)

LF – Ryan Ludwick (6-for-17, 2 2B’s, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K’s)

RF – Chris Heisey (4-for-10, 2 2B’s, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K’s)

SS – Ramon Santiago (3-for-10, 1 BB, 2 K’s)

P – Johnny Cueto (1-for-5, 1 BB, 1 K)

As the Pirates aggressively make their push towards October, the Reds will horrifyingly realize their season ended once again in Pittsburgh. Slinking out of the Steel City and on the road to Baltimore, the club will have to contemplate once again what could have been if it were not for the Pirates.