Pirates

Pirates Preview: First Chance to See New-Look Reds

Published

1 year ago

August 11, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (52-63) erased a four-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Thursday, earning a four-game series split.

Ke’Bryan Hayes drove in three more runs for the Pirates while Liover Peguero drove in a pair. Thomas Hatch got the win after tossing four-scoreless innings of relief in his team debut

Now, the Pirates will turn their sights to the Cincinnati Reds (60-57), a team they haven’t seen since sweeping their NL Central foes in four games from Apr. 20-23.

Since then, the Reds have promoted a handful of their top prospects including Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and others.

Friday night’s matchup will begin at 7:05 and will be aired on AT&T SportsNet.

Weather

It looks like a great night for baseball. Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s for first pitch. Winds WSW at 5-10 mph.

The Pirates will send out RHP Johan Oviedo (6-11, 4.18 ERA)

Oviedo has been brilliant of late and has allowed only a pair of runs in 20.0 innings pitched (0.90 ERA) over his last three starts.

The right-hander has gone six-plus innings in five of his last six outings and has complete seven innings on three occasions during that span.

Oviedo has made seven appearances (four starts) in his career against the Reds. In those seven outings, he’s gone 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA (10er/21.2ip) and has struck out 24 batters.

He has not faced the Reds yet in 2023.

The Reds will send out LHP Andrew Abbott (6-3, 2.93 ERA)

In his rookie season, the left-handed Abbott has been sensational for Cincinnati across his first 12 starts.

While he’s been great, he has struggled of late and has given up 10 runs in his last 9.0 innings pitched (10.00 ERA) over his last two starts.

This, though, comes on the heels of the 24-year-old combining for 14.0 shutout innings in his two prior starts from July 20-25.

Abbott has never faced the Pirates.

Reds Hitters vs. Oviedo

Joey Votto: 1 for 8, one home run, three RBIs, one walk, four strikeouts
Jonathan India: 2 for 7, two home runs, two RBIs, one walk, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Abbott

Tidbits

On Thursday, Hayes became the 14th Pirates’ player in the modern era and the first since Jason Bay in 2006 to drive in three or more runs in three consecutive games.
After collecting two more hits in four at-bats in Thursday’s win, Bryan Reynolds is hitting .325 (25 for 77) over his last 19 games played.
The Pirates have not dropped a series since losing two out of three to the Los Angeles Angels from July 21-23.