Reds vs. Pirates: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds look to find some consistency as they visit the Steel City.

It was an interesting week in Reds Country, to say the least. Due to an odd scheduling quirk that gave the club two off days and a rainout, the Cincinnati Reds went 2-2 last week. However, the oddities began as the previous week was ending.

Going back to Sunday, May 2nd, the Reds (15-16) had to hit five homers and scored 13 runs to outlast the Chicago Cubs in extra innings. Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon, the Redlegs won again in extras; however, the run they plated in the bottom of the 10th would be the lone run scored in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Without a doubt, the most memorable game of the week proved to be Friday night in Cleveland as Wade Miley tossed the 17th no-hitter in franchise history. Unfortunately, if there was one constant last week, it was Cincinnati’s inability to dent the plate.

The Reds scored a total of six runs in four contests. Additionally, the Redlegs scored three runs or less in each game and have failed to score more than three times in five of their last six. Needless to say, the offense is struggling.

Over their last 11 games, the Reds have scored only 42 runs, half of those coming in two games, and produced a paltry .220/.298/.363 slash line. In addition, they’ve drawn 33 free passes while striking out an astounding 108 times. Perhaps the sight of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff will breathe some life into the Reds’ bats.

Earlier the season, Cincinnati swept a three-game set from the Bucs and outscored them by an astonishingly 30-8 margin. To call it a complete dismantling of the Pirates would be an understatement.

Yesterday the Pirates (14-19) snapped a three-game slide by taking the final game of a weekend set at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. Currently occupying the basement of the National League Central, Pittsburgh has dropped eight of their last 10 contests.

Since 2011 the Reds and Pirates have played to a near draw, with the Redlegs holding a slight 91-88 advantage. However, PNC Park has not been a welcoming stop on Cincinnati road trips. Pittsburgh owns a 48-41 mark against the Reds over the last decade in the Steel City, with the Reds collecting just one series victory at PNC Park in their last eight attempts.