Pirates at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds have made a big splash ahead of the trade deadline by reportedly acquiring right-hander Trevor Bauer from the Cleveland Indians in a three-team deal. They'll try to follow up the major trade with a third consecutive series win when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a wild three-game set.
The swap, which also sent Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig to the Indians, was practically overshadowed by a vicious brawl between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on Tuesday in which Puig - still in the game despite reports of the trade - was one of many involved and ended up being ejected. Reds manager David Bell was ejected earlier in the game but still managed to get on the field during the brawl - the second between the teams this year - and was seen attempting to get after Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle. Secondary to all of this was an 11-4 win for Pittsburgh, which snapped a nine-game slide while simultaneously ending Cincinnati's three-game winning streak. Bauer joins a rotation led by All-Star Luis Castillo, who gets the nod in the finale opposite rookie Dario Agrazal for the Pirates.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Dario Agrazal (2-1, 3.24 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (9-4, 2.71)
Agrazal had a string of four straight starts with six innings and two or fewer runs allowed come to an end Friday at New York. The Mets got to him for five runs in 5 1/3 innings to hand the 24-year-old his first career loss. Agrazal, who will be facing the Reds for the first time, is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four road starts.
Castillo also had a streak of four consecutive quality starts snapped his last time out, giving up six runs in five frames in a loss to Colorado at home. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in his previous six turns at home and has a 2.28 ERA on the year at Great American Ball Park. Colin Moran is 5-for-9 with a home run and a double against Castillo, who is 1-3 with a 3.32 ERA in seven career starts versus Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds also shipped OF prospect Taylor Trammell to San Diego in the Bauer/Puig deal.
2. The Pirates recalled RHPs Geoff Hartlieb and Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHPs Alex McRae and Montana DuRapau to Indianapolis.
3. Pittsburgh LF Corey Dickerson homered twice Tuesday and is 13-for-28 over his last nine games.