Luis Castillo returns as the Reds welcome the Brewers to Great American Ball Park

All it took was a visit from the Pittsburgh Pirates to give the Cincinnati Reds (5-23) their first series victory of the 2022 season. Playing against their first opponent under .500 to open a series for the year, Cincinnati took two of three from the Bucs at Great American Ball Park this past weekend.

Infielder Colin Moran was all the Reds needed yesterday. The left-handed-hitting slugger blasted a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and collected a career-high six RBIs as the Reds downed the Pirates.

Entering play today, Cincinnati remains in the National League Central basement trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (19-10) by 13.5 games. Hopefully, the positive weekend will provide some much-needed momentum for the Redlegs.

The Reds looking to avenge last week's series sweep vs. the Brewers.

Cincinnati will need all the positive vibes they can muster because I'm sure last week's sweep courtesy of the Brew Crew is still fresh in the minds. The Reds' pitching staff made one of the senior circuits' worst offensive units look like Milwaukee famous Harvey's Wallbangers clubs of the early 80s that featured Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Robin Yount.

Milwaukee's offense exploded for 34 runs in the three-game dismantling of the Reds at American Family Field last week. Despite the below average offensive numbers produced by the Brew Crew bats, they are tied with the Atlanta Braves for the most round-trippers in the NL. Shortstop Willy Adames has already gone deep eight times in the 2022 campaign.

GABP was incredibly accommodating to the Beer Makers last year. Milwaukee captured seven of the nine contests in the Queen City during the 2021 campaign, including a three-game sweep of the Reds in July. Remarkably, since 2018 the Brewers are 22-10 when visiting Cincinnati.