Pirates at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates began the second half of the season in nightmarish fashion, but only the former has awakened from its bad dream. The Reds hope to continue their recent surge and attempt to make some more headway in the National League Central on Tuesday when they continue a three-game home set against the floundering Pirates.
Pittsburgh traded scheduled starter Jordan Lyles to Milwaukee earlier Monday and replaced him with reliever Alex McRae, who recorded only four outs and was bounced from the game well before Cincinnati got done sending 13 batters to the plate during a 10-run second inning en route to an 11-6 victory. The Reds (49-55) have won five of seven since dropping seven of their first 10 games after the All-Star break and find themselves 6 1/2 games out of the division and NL wild-card races. Pittsburgh (46-60) ended the first half of the season one game under .500 and two games ahead of Cincinnati but has fallen apart since, winning only twice in 17 post-break contests. The Pirates suffered their season-worst ninth consecutive setback Monday and are one loss shy of matching their longest slide since 2011.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (7-9, 4.29 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (6-6, 3.95)
Musgrove's inconsistent second half took a turn for the worse in a loss Thursday against St. Louis after he permitted six runs (five earned) and three homers over five innings. The 26-year-old has sandwiched a pair of rocky outings versus the Cardinals around a six-inning gem July 20 against Philadelphia in which he allowed one unearned run in six frames. Joey Votto is 3-for-9 with two doubles against Musgrove, who has fired a combined nine scoreless innings in one start and one relief appearance versus Cincinnati this season.
Roark remained unbeaten across his last six starts after earning a win at Milwaukee last Tuesday, permitting two runs on five hits and walk in five frames. The Illinois native has posted a 5.40 ERA while failing to register a quality start in five straight outings after carrying a 3.47 ERA through his first 15 turns. Roark gave up three runs over five innings in a no-decision at Pittsburgh on April 6 and has struggled in his career against Josh Bell (4-for-9, two homers) while befuddling Starling Marte (1-for-12, home run).
WALK-OFFS
1. Every player scored at least once during the Reds' second-inning outburst Monday, marking the first time they have achieved that feat since 1975.
2. Marte finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer Monday, giving him eight RBIs in his last seven contests and 22 in July - tied for the third-highest total in the NL.
3. Cincinnati has won three of four meetings - scoring at least eight runs in each victory - since dropping six straight to Pittsburgh, three of which were shutouts.