The Cincinnati Reds took two of three games when the Pittsburgh Pirates visited for a season-opening series. Boy, have things changed since then.
The Pirates, who host the Reds for four games starting Thursday, have won 11 of 16 since that opening set, including sweeps at Boston and Colorado. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has lost 10 of 15 and hasn’t won a series since.
The Pirates just completed that second sweep, winning all three against the Rockies in Denver, including a 14-3 win Wednesday. They outscored Colorado by a whopping 33-9. They have won four of their past five overall.
In fact, Pittsburgh has not lost two straight games since dropping the final two games of that opening series against Cincinnati.
Pirates starters have gone at least six innings and turned in a quality start in nine games in a row.
“It’s amazing to be part of this club right now, and we’d love to keep winning,” Pittsburgh’s starter and winner Wednesday, Johan Oviedo, told AT&T Sportsnet.
The Pirates pounded out 43 hits and scored 19 runs in the first through third innings against the Rockies. They are coming off a seven-game road trip in which they hit 10 homers.
“Consistency,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “We continue to have good at-bats.
“I don’t know if it’s finding another gear — and we have to keep going — but I thought the fact that we continued to add on and have good at-bats (on the road trip) was important.”
The Reds have only won two games in a series once since that opening series against Pittsburgh, and that was a split of a four-gamer against Philadelphia last weekend.
Cincinnati is coming off a series in Tampa Bay that began with an 8-1 win but dissolved into back-to-back shutout losses, by a combined 18-0.
“Of course, we don’t take that lightly,” Reds manager David Bell said of getting shut out on back-to-back days. “Our guys are taking it personally. Doing everything we can. Continuing to work.”
In the series opener Thursday, Cincinnati right-hander Luke Weaver is scheduled to make his season debut against Pittsburgh right-hander Roansy Contreras (1-1, 6.00 ERA).
Weaver has been out because of right elbow flexor strain. He signed with Cincinnati in January.
In two rehab appearances with Triple-A Louisville, Weaver gave up three runs and three hits in nine innings, with nine strikeouts and four walks.
Weaver is taking over Connor Overton’s spot in the Cincinnati rotation. Overton left his last start because of elbow soreness. The move also gives the other starters a chance to move back a day.
“There’s a lot to like about Luke,” Bell said of the 29-year-old. “He has a lot of experience having success in this league. He really likes being here, enjoys working with (pitching coach Derek Johnson) and feels like he can become a better pitcher than he has ever been to this point. He has a lot of years (experience), but he’s still young.”
In his third start of the year, Contreras got a no-decision Saturday in St. Louis, giving up two runs in six innings.
Contreras did not face Cincinnati in the earlier series but is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three career starts against the Reds, all in 2022.
–Field Level Media
