MLB Game Preview - Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:10 PM EDT

ATL
3
WSH
6
F
ARI
6
MIA
11
F
PIT
6
CIN
11
F
TOR
7
KC
3
F
LAD
1
COL
9
F
DET
7
LAA
2
F
BAL
1
SD
8
F
Pirates hope Lyles can reverse fortunes vs. Reds
Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:35 PM

The Cincinnati Reds are starting to put the pieces together, while the Pittsburgh Pirates are falling apart at the seams.

The Reds will vie for their fifth win in seven outings on Monday when they host the opener of a three-game series against the free-falling Pirates, who have lost eight in a row and 14 of 16 since the All-Star break.

Tucker Barnhart has flourished since missing 22 games with a right oblique strain. The 28-year-old highlighted a 5-for-6 stretch by collecting two RBI singles in Cincinnati's 3-2 victory over Colorado on Sunday.

"Getting away helped me watch the game and learn," Barnhart said. "I want to keep this going. It feels really good to contribute after being away for a long time."

Reds manager David Bell is pleased to have Barnhart back, both behind the plate as well as with a bat in his hands.

"We know what he brings in every way, but to have him to contributing offensively like he knows he's capable of, we're very happy for him -- and it helps us too," Bell said. "I think the time away gave him some time to regroup and get a different perspective on a lot of things."

Perhaps Barnhart has taken a liking to what he's seen from rookie Josh VanMeter, who scored twice in the series finale versus the Rockies. The 24-year-old VanMeter is a 9-for-13 with three homers and four RBIs over his last four games.

Pittsburgh's pronounced losing skid continued Sunday as it saw a late rally fall just short in an 8-7 setback to the New York Mets.

Bryan Reynolds extended his hitting streak to four games by joining Jose Osuna in launching two-run homers in the ninth inning.

Speaking of homers, Josh Bell has gone deep four times in the season series against Cincinnati. The 26-year-old is 16-for-40 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored against the Reds.

Sunday's power display notwithstanding, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle is going to extremes to motivate his team.

"I've used before the Stockdale Paradox," Hurdle said. "You have to have a sense of reality, but you need to remain optimistic.

"The harsh reality is we haven't played well for two weeks. The optimism is, as I said, there's been six games that we could have won along the way and that flips the record with one hit or one well-placed out."

Pittsburgh will aim to change its current fortunes versus right-hander Sonny Gray (5-6, 3.29 ERA), who sports a 2-1 mark with a 1.62 ERA in his last five starts despite receiving a no-decision against Milwaukee last Monday.

Gray owns a 1-3 mark with a 4.24 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) versus the Pirates. The 29-year-old rebounded after losing his first two starts of the season to Pittsburgh by allowing one run on five hits in six innings of an 8-1 victory over the Pirates on May 27.

Pittsburgh right-hander Jordan Lyles (5-7, 5.36) could use some good fortune after falling to 0-6 in his last eight starts in disastrous fashion. Lyles permitted eight runs on seven hits -- including three homers -- in a 14-8 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Lyles owns a 4-2 mark with a 4.30 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 16 career appearances (nine starts) against Cincinnati.

Lyles scattered three hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on April 4 before taking the loss on May 28 after allowing three runs in four innings of an 11-6 setback.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Pittsburgh            
Cincinnati            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Alex McRae - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Cincinnati
Sonny Gray - STL
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Pittsburgh

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

--%>