Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds (7:10pm ET, FSN)
With the series squared between Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, both team will try to supersede each other in Game 3 (7:10 pm ET, FSN), on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Pirates have 20-26 home, 9-14 away record whereas Reds have 26-20 away, 15-10 home record.
This season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have found themselves on the wrong end of plenty of blowouts. Late-inning homer from Pittsburgh’s catcher made a big difference and Pirates would like to continue the same against the Cincinnati Reds. By at least six runs, Pittsburgh (20-26) has lost 15 games.
Ryan Doumit’s ninth-inning homer gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 win and a major league-best 15-7 record in games decided by two runs or fewer and broke a 1-all tie Tuesday in Cincinnati. For the Pirates’ prowess in close contests, Doumit’s heroics have been a big reason. In the eighth inning or later, all five of his homers have come, with the past four either tying the score or giving Pittsburgh the lead. Doumit has been batting .413 (19 for 26) with three homers and nine RBIs in 12 games and over the past month, he has been one of baseball‘s most dangerous hitters away from home.
For the Cincinnati Reds (26-20) against Bronson Arroyo (4-2, 4.85 ERA), Doumit had just 1 for 7. Arroyo will get the ball on Wednesday. While posting a 3.22 ERA, Arroyo has won four consecutive decisions. In his last five starts against the Pirates, the lanky right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA.
Ross Ohlendorf (0-2, 5.30) after missing a month with back spasms, gave up a run and three hits but lasted just four innings in that loss. On Friday, in a 7-0 loss to Atlanta, he gave up six runs, seven hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings which made things very interesting from a baseball betting perspective.
“It was just one of those starts where he didn’t have much on the ball, With a team like this, you can’t have that kind of stuff and get through it very easily” said Russell.
