Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 20

Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 20

1. Probable starting pitchers
2. Cincinnati Reds starting lineup
3. Which Cincinnati Reds player needs to bounce back in today's game?
4. Which Cincinnati Reds player will be the X-factor in today's game?

Probable starting pitchers

The Cincinnati Reds haven't scored in two days. Let's hope that trend doesn't follow the club to the Steel City. Cincinnati heads to Pittsburgh for a four-game series against the Pirates.

The Reds have activated Luke Weaver from the Injured List after a forearm sidelined the veteran to begin the 2023 season. Weaver made two rehab starts, went nine innings while striking out nine and walking four. Weaver allowed opposing batters to hit just .107 while allowing just three base hits.

The Pirates will counter with Roansy Contreras. The Pittsburgh right-hander is carrying a 1.73 WHIP and 6.00 ERA in three starts this season. Contreras pitched well in his last start with six punch outs in six innings of two-run baseball.

Cincinnati Reds starting lineup

Spencer Steer is back, and David Bell has the rookie batting third behind Jonathan India and TJ Friedl. Outfielder Jake Fraley will be hitting cleanup and Tyler Stephenson has been bumped back to No. 5 in the batting order.

Wil Myers will be the Reds designated hitter tonight, and he'll be followed by first baseman Jason Vosler. Centerfielder Nick Senzel and shortstop Jose Barrero round out the starting nine.

Which Cincinnati Reds player needs to bounce back in today's game?

Take your pick. After back-to-back shutouts, the Cincinnati Reds could use a bounce-back game from nearly every hitter in the lineup. But no one needs a bounce-back performance more than Jake Fraley.

The Reds outfielder is 1-for-22 in his last seven games. Fraley isn't just up there hacking away, as he only has seven strikeouts during that span. During the last series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Fraley was 0-for-10 with two walks and four strikeouts.

Which Cincinnati Reds player will be the X-factor in today's game?

The Cincinnati Reds need to score runs in the worst way, and who better to do that than Jonathan India. The Reds leadoff hitter has been doing his job with a .393 on-base percentage in the last seven games. But the team hasn't held up their end of the bargain.

India has reached base safely nine time during that seven-game span, but has only crossed home plate four times. India may need to be a bit more active on the base paths and force the issue in tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.