Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 0, Cincinnati 3

Having snapped a pair of losing streaks, the Cincinnati Reds look to end another woeful season on a winning note when they wrap up the 2018 campaign against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. The Reds halted a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, a victory that also halted a seven-game slide versus the Pirates.

Third baseman Eugenio Suarez, among the bright spots for Cincinnati this year, homered for the second time in as many days and is 4-for-8 with three RBIs and three runs in the series. It marked only the fifth win in 18 meetings against their National League rivals for the Reds, who can make it three straight 94-loss seasons with a victory on Sunday. Pittsburgh, which clinched a winning season with a victory in the series opener, was blanked for an NL-leading 17th time. The Pirates could feature a makeshift lineup in the regular-season finale -- Corey Dickerson is unlikely to play after raising his batting average to an even .300 while Adam Frazier (hamstring) and Jordy Mercer (forearm) each exited Saturday's contest.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Clay Holmes (1-3, 7.25 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sal Romano (8-11, 5.37)

Holmes bounced between the majors and minors this season but will make his 11th career appearance and fourth start. He was shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A in mid-August in the minors and made three relief appearances this month, pitching two scoreless innings in each of his last two. Holmes, who gave up one run in two innings versus the Reds on April 6, is 0-3 with an exorbitant 17.28 ERA on the road.

Romano was banished to the bullpen nearly six weeks ago after a string of uneven performances but will rejoin the rotation for what is expected to be an abbreviated stint. The 24-year-old has made his last 12 appearances in relief, pitching more than 1 1/3 innings only once in that span. Josh Bell is 4-for-10 against Romano, who has a 5.40 ERA in three appearances (one start) versus the Pirates this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett, who leads the team with a .310 batting average, sat out Saturday with a sore right biceps.

2. Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang went 1-for-4 in his first start since the 2016 regular-season finale.

3. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias converted his 30th save in 34 chances.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Pirates 4