When the Cincinnati Reds arrive in Pittsburgh on Friday to open a sequence in opposition to the Pirates, they are going to discover a workforce all of the sudden brimming with confidence
That is as a result of Pittsburgh, regardless of being properly out of rivalry, went toe to toe with the very best workforce in baseball, the Atlanta Braves, and cut up a four-game sequence, together with a 7-5 win Thursday
“Simply maintaining that vitality all sequence. That sequence felt like a playoff sequence to me,” Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who drove in 9 runs whereas taking part in in three video games within the sequence, informed AT&T Sportsnet. “Simply good, clear baseball on either side. We’re a extremely good workforce. On any given night time, we are able to beat anybody.
Pittsburgh is 5-2 in opposition to the Reds, together with a sweep of 4 video games the final time they met, April 20-23 at PNC Park
Cincinnati, in contrast to the Pirates, is over .500, and that’s adequate to be in rivalry within the Nationwide League Central. However issues have been spiraling downward
The Reds figuratively had their tongues hanging out after a 5-4 loss to Miami on Wednesday, their twenty seventh recreation in 28 days. They’ve misplaced two in a row and eight of 9, and they’re pointing to fatigue
Specifically, the Cincinnati bullpen appeared to want the break of a day without work Thursday. Over the previous 9 video games, the Reds‘ relievers are 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA and have labored greater than three innings six instances
“A few of it is to be anticipated, and for me not alarming,” Reds supervisor David Bell stated. “So I believe off days will actually assist to get a reset, mentally and bodily for our guys within the bullpen, their arms
“The underside line is they’re doing an ideal job of doing every part they’ll to remain robust and proceed to assist us win video games. And while you do this, you come out of it, and also you get a breather naturally with the schedule, and that’ll assist quite a bit.
Within the opener, Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott (6-3, 2.93 ERA) is scheduled to begin reverse Pittsburgh right-hander Johan Oviedo (6-11, 4.18)
Abbott, who has not confronted the Pirates, will probably be making his twelfth major-league begin in a robust rookie season
On Saturday in opposition to Washington, Abbott had one among his greatest hiccups. He took his first loss since July 15, permitting six runs, 9 hits and a career-high 5 walks in 5 2/3 innings
“It is a type of days in baseball the place you do not have it,” Abbott stated. “It is going from (making an attempt to) dominate to simply going out and attempting to compete so long as I might for the workforce to provide the bullpen a break.
Oviedo is on a roll. He’s 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA over his previous three video games, all high quality begins. He additionally has been a boon to the bullpen – he has reached seven innings six instances
That features his final day trip when he pitched seven shutout innings Sunday in a win at Milwaukee
“Johan was actually good,” Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton stated. “That is a very good lineup, and he saved them off steadiness your entire recreation.
Oviedo is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in seven profession video games, 4 of them begins, in opposition to the Reds
–Discipline Stage Medi