Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 12, Cincinnati 1

Starling Marte and the Pittsburgh Pirates are on a roll, and the club looks to extend its season-best winning streak to seven games when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Marte went 2-for-6 with a grand slam during Friday's 12-1 triumph as he stretched his hitting streak to 13 contests.

Marte is batting .389 with five homers and 14 RBIs during his hot streak, raising his average 21 points to .286. Sean Rodriguez homered and drove in four runs while Corey Dickerson added a solo blast to help Pittsburgh win for the ninth time in 10 games. Reds All-Star first baseman Joey Votto wasn't in the starting lineup for the opener and proclaimed, "I could use a little bit of a breather," to reporters prior to the game but ultimately entered the contest in the ninth inning. Friday's loss was the second in a row for Cincinnati following a stretch during which it won 18 of 25 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (4-4, 4.26 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (4-2, 5.32)

Kingham has won his last two starts, allowing four runs and nine hits over 12 1/3 innings during the stretch. The 26-year-old has dropped three straight road turns after winning his first such outing in Milwaukee on May 4 and has posted a subpar 6.41 ERA in games away from home. Kingham has a fine strikeout-to-walk ratio of 51-to-12 but has served up 10 homers in 50 2/3 frames.

DeSclafani has been roughed up in three starts this month, serving up six homers in just 15 2/3 innings while going 1-1 with a 6.89 ERA. The 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in five home outings this season. DeSclafani is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Pirates, including a victory on June 17 in which he allowed two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 2B Josh Harrison (hamstring) was held out of the series opener and will test the leg Saturday before it is determined whether or not he can return to the lineup.

2. Cincinnati recalled Phillip Ervin from Triple-A Louisville to fill the roster spot of fellow OF Scott Schebler (shoulder), who was placed on the 10-day DL on Thursday.

3. Pittsburgh activated Rodriguez (quadriceps) from the 10-day disabled list prior to the game and optioned RHP Tanner Anderson to Triple-A Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Pirates 4