Reds & Pirates Showing Signs Of Life Entering 4 Game Set

[Ron Madden]

The Reds, last in the NL, responded to their first series win last weekend against Pittsburgh by winning another against NL Central leader Milwaukee, taking two of three, including a 14-11 win Wednesday.

"At the beginning of the year there were a lot of challenges. It just builds character," Reds outfielder TJ Friedl, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored Wednesday, told MLB on YouTube. "We won our first series against the Pirates, and now we're building off that momentum."

Cincinnati has been banged up most of the year but is coming out of its early-season funk.

"We just continue to take it day by day and, once we get healthy, get this thing rolling," Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who was 3-for-5 Wednesday with two doubles and four RBIs, told MLB on YouTube.

The series loss in Cincinnati didn't seem to dampen Pittsburgh's desire. The Pirates bounced back to take two of three from the NL's top team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a 5-3 win Wednesday.

"It's a resilient group," infielder Josh VanMeter, who homered and tripled and scored twice Wednesday, told AT&T Sportsnet. "That's a big series win right there, especially after the series in Cincinnati. I think it shows a lot about this group."

Daniel Vogelbach, who hit a tiebreaking homer Wednesday, stuck up for his Pittsburgh team as well as the Reds.

"I don't think we necessarily think we played bad in Cincinnati," he said. "Cincinnati just beat Milwaukee in a series, too. It's the big leagues. Everybody's getting paid to play the game. There's no easy series.

"That's all it is, is a series win (against L.A.) because we've got to come back (Thursday) and we've got to play good baseball against a really hot Cincinnati team."

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/r...-with-pirates/

[Ron Madden]

Bobby Nightengale
@nightengalejr

Reds-Pirates probable starters for their weekend series:

Thursday - RHP Connor Overton vs. RHP JT Brubaker.

Friday - RHP Tyler Mahle vs. RHP Mitch Keller.

Saturday - RHP Luis Castillo vs. RHP Zach Thompson.

Sunday - RHP Hunter Greene vs. LHP José Quintana.

[Boston Red]

Maybe an overstatement to call the Reds really hot, but for this team perhaps a 4-2 stretch is as hot as it gets.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Maybe an overstatement to call the Reds really hot, but for this team perhaps a 4-2 stretch is as hot as it gets.

Yep. I think some of us gladly settle for lukewarm or tepid considering the deep freeze this team has been in.

The only thing I want ice cold is by beer.

[Old school 1983]

I think the Reds can sweep this series.

[mth123]

I think the Reds can sweep this series.

I do too actually. The ice-cold start for everybody at the same time was probably going to result in a stretch where they were all hitting at the same time. I think we're in that stretch right now. Enjoy it while it lasts. Add that they are playing the Pirates and the Reds worst starting pitcher won't be pitching in this series and I think it's the most likely time all year where they may have a chance to sweep.

[Ron Madden]

It's the big leagues. Everybody's getting paid to play the game.
There's no easy series.

--- Daniel Vogelbach, Pittsburgh Pirates

[CaiGuy]

I do too actually. The ice-cold start for everybody at the same time was probably going to result in a stretch where they were all hitting at the same time. I think we're in that stretch right now. Enjoy it while it lasts. Add that they are playing the Pirates and the Reds worst starting pitcher won't be pitching in this series and I think it's the most likely time all year where they may have a chance to sweep.

Yep, and I think that Malhe, Castillo, and even Greene can handle the Pirates lineup.