Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2018 ) Cincinnati 2, Pittsburgh 3

The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to clinch a winning campaign for the first time since 2015 when they begin a season-ending three-game series at the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The Pirates managed just three hits in a 3-0 loss at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thursday, their second straight setback following an 8-2 surge.

Pittsburgh (80-78) did manage five walks against the Cubs but they were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position while falling to 41-32 against National League Central opponents. The Reds have scored just five runs during a five-game losing streak, including a 6-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. After shutting down Luis Castillo due to an innings restriction, Cincinnati bumped Anthony DeSclafani into Friday's start. Rookie Nick Kingham goes for the Pirates, who swept a three-game set at Cincinnati in July.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (5-7, 5.23 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (7-7, 4.91)

Kingham is coming off a disastrous start in a loss against Milwaukee on Sunday, giving up six runs (five earned) over 1 1/3 innings. He is 0-3 with a 12.19 ERA over his last four starts. The 26-year-old's last win came at Cincinnati on July 21, when he let up two runs and four hits across 6 1/3 innings.

DeSclafani tied a career high with 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings but took the loss at Miami his last time out. The outing left the New Jersey native with an 0-3 record and an ERA of 7.04 in five September starts. Corey Dickerson is 3-for-7 with two home runs against DeSclafani.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Starling Marte has 12 RBIs in 13 games against the Reds this year.

2. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett is 3-for-20 over his last five games to drop his average to .313, eight points behind NL leader Christian Yelich.

3. Pittsburgh has won each of the last six meetings by a combined margin of 42-11.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Reds 3