Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Cincinnati 1, Pittsburgh 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of moves in front of the waiver trade deadline on Friday designed to open more playing time for younger players, especially on the infield, and the early returns are positive. The Pirates will try to ride the hot bat of second baseman Adam Frazier to a series win when they host the Cincinnati Reds for the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh waived goodbye to veteran infielders David Freese and Adeiny Hechavarria on Friday, immediately opening up playing time on the infield for Frazier, who had logged time at all three outfield spots this season in addition to second base. Frazier got the start at second base in the opener against the Reds on Monday and responded by going 4-for-4 with three RBIs while coming up a triple short of the cycle in a 5-1 victory. Cincinnati has its own hot second baseman in All-Star Scooter Gennett, who went 2-for-4 with a homer on Monday and leads the National League with a .320 batting average. Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove will try to slow Gennett on Tuesday while Reds lefty Cody Reed tangles with Frazier and company.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Cody Reed (0-1, 3.26 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (5-8, 3.80)

Reed is getting a chance to prove he belongs in the rotation and will make his third start among 13 appearances in 2018. The 25-year-old was solid in a start against Milwaukee on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings, but was lifted after 73 pitches. Reed, who is seeing Pittsburgh for the first time this season, could build his pitch count further on Tuesday.

Musgrove struggled through his last two outings, allowing a total of nine runs on 13 hits over 10 innings at Milwaukee and St. Louis. The 25-year-old enjoyed a string of five straight quality starts prior to the recent blip, including wins over first-place clubs Cleveland and the Chicago Cubs. Musgrove suffered through his worst start of the season at home against Cincinnati on June 17, when he was ripped for season highs of six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 1B Josh Bell went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Monday and is hitless in his last four games.

2. Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton is 11-for-29 over his last seven contests, raising his batting average to .244.

3. Pittsburgh LF Corey Dickerson is 3-for-34 over his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Reds 2