Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2019 ) Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 9

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had much for which to cheer this season, however the club can hold its head high for its recent performances when the Cincinnati Reds pay a visit to the Steel City. The Pirates bid to extend their home winning streak over the Reds to 11 contests on Friday when the National League Central rivals open a season-ending three-game series.

Pittsburgh, which recorded a three-game sweep of visiting Cincinnati on Aug. 23-25, brought out the brooms once again on Thursday following a 9-5 victory over the reeling Chicago Cubs. Erik Gonzalez had a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, although he is just 3-for-19 in the season series against the Reds. Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez has fared slightly better versus Pittsburgh, although just two of his career-high 49 homers in 2019 have come at the expense of the Pirates. Pittsburgh left-hander Steven Brault will look to keep the 28-year-old Suarez in the park while right-hander Anthony DeSclafani provides the opposition for the Reds.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (9-9, 3.84 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Steven Brault (4-6, 5.07)

DeSclafani looks to finish September on a high note after posting an 0-2 record with a 2.77 ERA in his previous four starts. The 29-year-old allowed just one earned run for the second straight outing but settled for a no-decision last Saturday after tossing six innings against the New York Mets. DeSclafani owns an 0-2 mark with a 5.63 ERA in three appearances versus Pittsburgh this season while permitting the Pirates to bat .313 against him.

Brault lost his third straight start last Friday after yielding six runs on as many hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-1 shellacking at Milwaukee. The 27-year-old improved to 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in his nine career appearances (three starts) versus Cincinnati on May 29 after scattering three hits over 5 1/3 scoreless frames of a 7-2 victory at Great American Ball Park. Jose Peraza (3-for-9) and Joey Votto (3-for-10) have each fared well against Brault, who owns an 0-4 mark with a 4.14 ERA in 11 home appearances (eight starts) this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati rookie RF Aristides Aquino, who went deep among his three hits in Thursday's 5-3 setback against Milwaukee, is 5-for-12 with a homer against Pittsburgh this season.

2. Pirates 2B Adam Frazier is 8-for-24 with five runs scored in his last six games.

3. Votto is 14-for-39 with a pair of homers against Pittsburgh this season.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3