Cincinnati Reds (37-42, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (41-40, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 64 strikeouts); Pirates: Paul Skenes (6-7, 2.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 107 strikeouts)LINE: Pirates -223, Reds +180; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.Pittsburgh has a 41-40 record overall and a 22-20 record at home. The Pirates have the seventh-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .411.Cincinnati has an 18-20 record on the road and a 37-42 record overall. The Reds are fifth in the NL with 97 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.The matchup Friday is the seventh time these teams square off this season. The Pirates hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Lowe leads the Pirates with 19 home runs while slugging .515. Bryan Reynolds is 17 for 36 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs over the past 10 games.Sal Stewart has 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 54 RBIs for the Reds. Noelvi Marte is 7 for 36 with three doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games.
