Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 22

Probable starting pitchers

Oh boy, buckle up! Sorry, but after his last performance, how can any fan throughout Reds Country have any confidence with Luis Cessa toeing the rubber for Cincinnati tonight. Cessa was downright awful during his previous start.

The right-hander was embaressed in his last outing. Cessa allowed 11 runs on 14 hits through only three innings. He walked three batters and didn't record a single strikeout before being lifted by his manager in the fourth inning.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are sending 43-year-old starter Rich Hill to the bump on Saturday night. The veteran allowed three runs on three hits, including two home runs, during his previous outing against the Reds back on April 1st.

Cincinnati Reds starting lineup

With a left-hander on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates, you knew that Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell was going to load up on right-handed bats. Jonathan India will bat first and play second base. He'll be followed by Spencer Steer, Stuart Fairchild, and Tyler Stephenson.

Wil Myers draws the start at first base and Kevin Newman will be the Reds starting shortstop on Saturday night. Nick Senzel gets his first big league start in right field, while Jose Barrero will be in center field this evening.

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

Wil Myers needs to bounce back tonight. It looked as though the Cincinnati Reds prized free agent signee was figuring things out, but Myers has one hit in his last 12 at-bats and has struck out 12 times during that stretch.

Myers was brought in to be the big thumper in the middle of the Reds lineup. So far, Myers has just four extra-base hits through the first 20 games of the season. Perhaps the former San Diego Padres outfielder will get off the schneid tonight in the Steel City.

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

This seems rather straightforward, as the X-factor in tonight's game at Pittsburgh is Luis Cessa. If the right-hander can give manager David Bell five solid innings, then he'll have done his job and at least give the Cincinnati Reds' bats a chance to be in the game.

Cessa's spot in the starting rotation is on the line tonight. One more subpar performance will surely send him back to the bullpen. The Reds don't have time for Cessa to "get it right" with so many young and talented pitchers in the team's farm system.