Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - Apr 7^th 2018 7:05 PM ^ET Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to their best start since 1976, and they’ll try to stay hot when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the third contest of a four-game series Saturday. The Pirates are tied for the best record in the majors at 6-1.

Pittsburgh’s lineup has a new look with the departure of stalwart Andrew McCutchen, but the Pirates have managed to replace him with a balanced effort. Five players had multiple hits in a 14-3 win Friday, including four hits and three RBIs from Colin Moran to go along with three hits apiece from Corey Dickerson and Jordy Mercer. The Reds had 13 hits Friday, but only one went for extra bases and they left 10 runners on base. Cincinnati is off to a 1-5 start and has totaled just six runs in its past three games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet - Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sal Romano (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (1-0, 6.35)

Romano struggled to command his off-speed pitches in Sunday’s loss to Washington, but he managed to eat up some innings. The 24-year-old was able to get through six frames and limit the damage to three runs despite issuing four walks and surrendering two home runs. Romano is 1-2 with a 2.29 ERA in three meetings with the Pirates, and he has lost both of his outings at PNC Park.

Kuhl was the beneficiary of strong run support in his first start in Sunday’s doubleheader finale at Detroit, as he gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings but still picked up the win in an 8-6 victory. The 25-year-old has struggled a bit at home, where he is 8-8 with a 5.07 ERA in 22 career starts. Kuhl is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two meetings with the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 1B Josh Bell went 0-for-2 Friday to snap his six-game hitting streak, but he walked three times and scored twice.

2. Reds 1B Joey Votto is 3-for-4 with a double and a homer versus Kuhl.

3. Cincinnati OF Scott Schebler has missed three straight games with an elbow injury but was able to take batting practice Thursday and Friday and is nearing a return.