Reds vs Pirates: Preview, pitching matchups and prediction

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs Pirates

Anthony DeSclafani (1-0 0.00 ERA) makes his 2020 home debut tonight opposing Trevor Williams (0-3 3.52 ERA) of the Pirates. How good has Disco been this year? In 11 innings, DeSclafani’s allowed five hits and zero earned runs good. Retribution should be on the mind of DeSclafani as he faces the Pirates.

In his last five starts against Pittsburgh, Disco is 0-3 with 5.54 ERA and has allowed 31 hits over 26 frames. Bucs sluggers Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco have been particularly tough outs for DeSclafani. Polanco is slashing .316/.350/.579 with a homer, while Bell has produced a 1.000 OPS with a round-tripper in 17 at-bats versus the Reds right-hander.

Trevor Williams is no stranger to the Reds.  As a matter of fact, I’m sure the right-hander is looking forward to tonight’s start.  The right-hander is 3-1 in his last five starts against Cincinnati with a sparkling 1.42 ERA.  However, Reds DH Jesse Winker has been immune to Williams effectiveness.  The white-hot Reds left-handed slugger is 4-for-6 lifetime against the Pirates starter.

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Cincinnati ace Sonny Gray (3-1 2.25 ERA) toes the rubber Friday night, facing fellow right-hander Chad Kuhl (0-0 2.00 ERA). Gray is looking to bounce back after suffering his first loss of the season to the Milwaukee Brewers last week. Interestingly, if there’s one team Gray has struggled with since joining the Reds, it’s the Pirates.

Lifetime, the Vanderbilt alum has faced the Pirates six times and is 2-3 with an elevated 4.71 ERA. Although, if there’s one Pirates who walks the plank versus Gray it’s third baseman, Colin Moran. The left-handed swinging slugger is 0-for-7 lifetime with four strikeouts when stepping into the batter’s box against Gray.

Kulh has been stingy over his last five starts against the Redlegs. Tossing 28.2  innings, he’s 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA and 31 punch outs. Kuhl has been particularly unkind to Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart. The Cincinnati backstop is 2-for-12 in his career with five strikeouts against Kulh.

Trevor Bauer (2-0 0.93 ERA) takes the bump Saturday night, squaring off against southpaw Steven Brault (0-0 5.14 ERA) of the Pirates. A strong argument can be made that Bauer has been the Reds’ best starter this season. The numbers don’t lie. In 19 innings, he’s allowed just two runs on seven hits while fanning an astonishing 32 hitters against just four free passes.

It’s no secret to anyone that Bauer has a long memory, so it’s safe to assume he recalls his only start as a Red against Pittsburgh. To be brief, it was a disaster. Lasting just three innings, he was rocked for seven runs on eights hits in addition to surrendering two homers. They say revenge is a dish best served cold, so expect Bauer to be Mr. Freeze Saturday night.

Brault is yet another Pittsburgh hurler who has enjoyed success versus the Cincinnati Reds. In four career starts, he’s 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA while whiffing 21 Redlegs in just 20.1 frames. Sluggers Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker are a combined 1-for-11 lifetime when facing the 28-year-old lefty.

For Sunday’s finale, Luis Castillo (0-2 3.91 ERA) gets the call while the Pirates counter with veteran left-hander Derek Holland (0-1 8.27 ERA). It wasn’t quite vintage La Piedra in his last start, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.

Tossing six innings against Kansas City he allowed just one earned run while mowing down five Royals. Throughout his career, Castillo has been a beast at home. Starting 43 games at Great American Ball Park, he’s fanned 299 opposing hitters in just 264.2 innings while posting a strong 3.23 ERA. Expect to see more of that dominance on Sunday.

The 2020 season has not been kind to Derek Holland. The 33-year-old southpaw allowed an embarrassing 13 hits and an otherworldly five homers in five innings in his last start against the Detroit Tigers. In four of his last seven starts, Holland’s allowed a minimum of six runs. Sunday should prove to be a confidence booster as the Reds prepare to hit the road.