Pirates at Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost eight in a row and 14 of their last 16 since the All-Star break to plummet in the National League Central standings. The Pirates aim to end their pronounced slide and continue their success this season versus the Reds on Monday when the division rivals open a three-game series in Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh, which has won seven of 10 in the season series against the Reds, was undone by a six-run first inning and three unearned runs and three errors overall in an 8-7 setback to the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon. Bryan Reynolds belted a two-run homer in the ninth inning to boost his hitting streak to four games heading into the series versus Cincinnati, against which he is 6-for-14 with three RBIs and five runs scored. Impressive numbers to be certain, however rookie Josh VanMeter continued his strong surge by scoring twice on Sunday as the Reds recorded their fourth win in six outings with a 3-2 victory over Colorado. The 24-year-old is a robust 9-for-13 with three home runs and four RBIs over his last four games and 2-for-3 this season in a small sample size versus the Pirates.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-7, 5.36 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sonny Gray (5-6, 3.29)
Lyles will have a chance to put a positive spin on what has been a disastrous July on Monday, as the 28-year-old aims to rebound after allowing 23 runs on 28 hits - including eight homers - during an 0-3 stretch over four starts. All told, Lyles fell to 0-6 in his last eight trips to the mound on Wednesday after permitting eight runs on seven hits over 1 2/3 innings of a 14-8 setback versus St. Louis. Lyles began that eight-game stretch by yielding three runs in four frames of an 11-6 loss at Cincinnati on May 28.
Gray owns a 2-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and 42 strikeouts over his last five starts (33 1/3 innings) after receiving a no-decision at Milwaukee last Monday. The 29-year-old received that fate despite allowing one run on four hits versus the Brewers to raise his totals to six and 19, respectively, in those categories over the five-game stretch. Gray lost his first two starts of the season versus Pittsburgh before rebounding on May 27 by yielding one run on five hits over six innings of an 8-1 romp over the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati C Tucker Barnhart is 5-for-6 with a pair of RBI singles in two games since returning from a 22-game absence due to a right oblique strain.
2. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell is 16-for-40 with nine extra-base hits (five doubles, four homers), 10 RBIs and eight runs scored in the season series.
3. Reds 1B Joey Votto is 9-for-26 with five extra-base hits (four doubles, homer) against the Pirates this season.