Reds vs. Pirates Preview
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have won three consecutive series against the bottom two clubs in the NL Central to insert themselves in a three-way battle for the division’s top spot.
They’ve had pretty good success when facing the division’s fourth-place team as well.
The Pirates have won four straight against the Cincinnati Reds, who look to add a fourth club to the list of Central contenders when they open a three-game set at PNC Park on Monday night.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Pirates -107 money line favorites for Monday’s game against the Reds. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 58% of more than 3,946 bets for this game have been placed on the Pirates -107.
Pittsburgh (49-44) was 1 1/2 games behind both Milwaukee and St. Louis on July 3, but it’s made things even tighter in the upper half of the NL Central by taking advantage of the division’s bottom-feeders.
The Pirates won two of three against both the woeful Astros and the Chicago Cubs prior to the All-Star break, and did the same to begin the second half in Houston. Despite closer Joel Hanrahan blowing his first save Sunday when he was asked to get four outs, Pittsburgh rallied to win 7-5 in 11 innings.
“Stuff happens, adversity, so we fight harder and grind harder and I think we’ve been showing that lately and showed it today,” said leadoff hitter Alex Presley, who’s batting .343 since his June 28 recall.
The Pirates – a division-best 22-13 against Central foes – trail the front-running Brewers by a half-game, but they’re percentage points ahead of the Cardinals for second place thanks to Cincinnati.
The Reds (47-48) had lost three series in a row heading into Sunday’s finale against St. Louis, but won 3-1 to take two of three.
Cincinnati is just 3 1/2 games out of first despite not winning consecutive games since a three-game sweep of the Dodgers from June 13-15.
“We’re starting the second half, and we’re starting the right way, taking two out of three from St. Louis,” said closer Francisco Cordero, who bounced back with a save Sunday after blowing his previous three chances. “Tough times are going to happen sooner or later, but you’ve got to deal with it and come out of it.”
The Reds are 15-10 against the Cardinals and Brewers, but they’ve had a tougher time figuring out the Pirates. Pittsburgh has won five of six in the 2011 series, all in Cincinnati.
Garrett Jones is 7 for 17 with two homers against the Reds, while the Pirates’ top two bats have also been successful. Neil Walker, who’s hitting .447 during an 11-game hitting streak overall, has reached safely in 15 of 28 plate appearances against Cincinnati, while Andrew McCutchen is 7 for his last 17 versus the Reds with a pair of homers.
None of those big offensive performances came against Dontrelle Willis (0-0, 3.00 ERA), however. Willis will make his second start in a Cincinnati uniform after giving up two runs over six innings July 10 at Milwaukee, where Cordero’s blown save cost him a win.
“He was a little shaky, but got better as the game went on,” manager Dusty Baker said of Willis, who’s 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA in his last three outings against the Pirates – the most recent in 2009.
Hurdle may want to make sure outfielder Matt Diaz is in the lineup. Diaz is 10 for 24 with three homers against Willis.
James McDonald (5-4, 4.42) counters for the Pirates after going four straight outings without a decision, including July 8 against the Cubs when he gave up three runs over 5 2-3 innings.
He’s had two contrasting outings this year against the Reds. McDonald was shelled for seven runs over 4 1-3 innings in an 11-2 loss April 16, but held Cincinnati to a Jay Bruce solo homer over 6 2-3 innings in a 5-3 win May 19.
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