Cincinnati Reds (32-36) ace Johnny Cueto just loves pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates (39-30). Cueto has a chance to add to his success opposite the Bucs when he takes the mound on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game set in Pittsburgh. Will the Reds draw first blood? Or will the Pirates take a rare win against Cueto?
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[sc:MLBArticles ]Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Cincinnati Reds
[sc:MLB240banner ]Johnny Cueto hasn’t been pitching like the ace that he is over his last two starts, but a matchup against one of his “favorite” opponents in the Pirates might see him restore his confidence. Cueto has allowed seven earned runs in just 12-plus innings over his last two starts, including in the Reds’ 8-4 win over Detroit last Wednesday.
But since breaking into the big leagues in 2008, Cueto has earned an 18-4 record and an equally impressive 2.13 ERA in 28 starts against Pittsburgh. Moreover, Cueto is 6-0 with a fantastic 1.38 ERA in nine starts against Pittsburgh since 2013.
For all his greatness when up against Pittsburgh, though, Cueto’s recent form still suggests that the Reds can’t totally rely on their ace as of this moment. Hopefully for Cincy, the likes of Marlon Byrd, Todd Frazier, and Billy Hamilton can continue to sizzle opposite Pirates’ starter Jeff Locke. Byrd is 4-for-10 (.400) in his career against Locke, while Frazier and Hamilton have been even better. The two are .500 (8-for-18 with two homers) and .455 (5-for-11), respectively, in the same matchup.
Jay Bruce, meanwhile, is wreaking havoc at the plate as of late. Bruce is 10-for-23 with a pair of homers and five RBIs over his last six games.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The happy days are seemingly over for Pittsburgh. After going on an eight-game win streak, the Pirates are now reeling from a three-game losing skid, one that they will look to end when they send Jeff Locke to the mound this coming Tuesday. The Bucs are 3-1 in Locke’s last four home starts.
Locke’s experience when he last faced Cincy isn’t one worth reminiscing, though. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits in seven innings in Pittsburgh’s 7-1 loss to the Reds on May 5. That being said, Locke has shown far better form in his past two starts, in which he allowed just two runs on nine hits in 12 total innings. It’s the same kind of outing the Pirates will count on Locke to have at home in his rematch against the Reds. Locke is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in seven starts at PNC Park thus far this year.
Locke, however, needs the Pirates to jumpstart their offense again so he can have enough wiggle room against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh, which has scored just three runs in its last three games, is batting .259 in 19 games this June.
Among the Pirates’ most reliable hitter of late is Josh Harrison, who’s gone 11-for-27 (.407) over his last seven games. Don’t be surprised if he hits well against Cueto, as he has a career .333 (7-for-21) with three doubles and a home run off the Reds’ ace. Andrew McCutchen, on the other hand, is 18-for-62 (.290) with four doubles and four home runs against Cueto.
Writer’s Prediction
Cincinnati wins, 5-4.
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