Bucs Open Five-Game Series With Reds in Twin Bill: What to Expect

After a disappointing series in Kansas City, the Pirates continue their road trip when they head to Cincinnati on Monday. The Pirates have a chance to put that series in the rearview mirror with a doubleheader of action today.

To say that the Pittsburgh Pirates' most recent three-game series in Kansas City was a disappointment would be an understatement. Against a team that the Pirates matched up pretty well against on paper, they were outscored 22-7 with the worst of those games coming in yesterday's 11-0 loss. However, the Pirates have a chance to put all of that behind them today as they travel to Cincinnati to start a five-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates will have plenty to keep their mind off of the last series today when they play two with the Reds. By the time 4:10 pm rolls around the Pirates will be looking to bust out the bats in a hitter-friendly ballpark.

The first two series against the Reds this season have been deadlocked as the Pirates are 3-3 against the Reds, the only team that they don't have a losing record against this season. The last time they played the Reds was in a four-game series September 4th through the 6th at PNC Park. The teams split the series-opening doubleheader and split the last two games for an even 2-2 split. The Pirates are looking for similar results this time out as they start their five-game series off once again with a doubleheader, featuring two intriguing pitching match-ups. Here is what to expect as the Pirates start off the week with a doubleheader as they enter the final two weeks of the 2020 season.

Two Intriguing Pitching Match-ups

When it comes to the new seven-inning doubleheader rule, pitching is key to any team's success. For the Pirates, they start off the series with two intriguing young pitchers as they look to get the upper hand on the Reds early on. Game one will feature Cody Ponce, who has impressed in his first two Major League starts, while game two will see the return of Mitch Keller from the injured list. Both young pitchers are looking for something to prove in these games, and good performances could solidify their futures. For Ponce, it is a chance to fight for a rotation spot next season and for Keller, it is to prove that he is healthy and ready to go for 2021.

Game one's starter is going to be Cody Ponce, who will be making his third Major League start and fifth total appearance this season. After coming over to the Pirates from the Milwaukee Brewers in last year's Jordan Lyles trade, Ponce made the Pirates satellite roster and has been a great 29th man in the team's first two doubleheaders of the season. In his first two starts of the season for the Pirates, Ponce is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings of work. He does get hit around more than you would like to see, with eight hits allowed, but he has shown an ability to get out of jams and keep his team in the game. The Reds will be the first team that Ponce is facing for the second time, so his ability to make adjustments will be tested.

Game two will see the return of Mitch Keller, who was supposed to be the Pirates ace this season before injuries derailed his season. Keller hasn't pitched in a game since August 1st but was having a good start to the season. He threw five innings of one-run ball in his first start of the season, before having to leave his second game after just 2.2 innings of work due to injury. He had allowed just two earned runs before leaving the game, but the Pirates couldn't save him from taking the loss and dropping to 1-1. After a disappointing rookie season, Keller was out to prove he had what it took to be an elite starting pitcher in 2020. His control came into question when he walked four batters in his first nine innings while striking out just three, but that could have been due to injury. A strong return to the mound is imperative not only to the Pirate's success but to Keller's future as well.

Use Great American Ball Parks Dimensions

Of all the ballparks in Major League Baseball, one of the parks that hitters love the most is Great American Ball Park. The short porch in left field is an invitation for right-handed hitters and the 325 corner in right gives left-handers a chance to show off their power. Over the last five seasons, teams have combined to hit 1,119 home runs in Cincinnati, which is the most of any ballpark in the Major Leagues. For the Pirates, who rank last in the MLB with 39 home runs, it is a chance for them to get those power numbers up while trying to rack up some wins. On the other side the Pirates pitchers, who have given up the 5th most home runs in the league, will be looking to keep the Reds in the ballpark and off the scoreboard.

For the Pirates, the series may be coming at the right time, as their premier power hitter has started to hear up. Despite the team's struggles, Josh Bell had a monster series against the Kansas City Royals that saw him go 6-12 with two home runs and three RBI. 2020 has been a struggle for Bell, but recently he has found his stroke raising his average to .232 with six home runs and 17 RBI. He currently ranks second on the team in both home runs and RBI after a short stint in the sixth spot of the batting order. This dip helped Bell not only improve his run production but his plate discipline as well. The Pirates as a whole had not been a very patient team, but Bell is second with 15 walks this season. this newfound patience has helped him see pitches he can hit and has led to the recent success he has seen.

On the other side of the ball, the Pirates pitchers are going to have to work on limiting the number of home runs they give up. This becomes more of a concern as the series moves on with guys like Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams, who have both been susceptible to the home run ball, taking the mound. The Pirates have given up the fifth-most home runs as a team in Major League Baseball with 66 and it seems like a lot of them have come at the absolute worst time. Injuries have been part of the problem but guys like Williams have just flat out struggled in that department. The Pirates gave up five home runs in their series against the Royals and need to limit that to have success in Cincinnati.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (14-30) and the Cincinnati Reds (21-26) kick off their five-game series tonight with doubleheader action. Game one sees Cody Ponce (1-1, 3.46) make his third MLB start for the Pirates against Trevor Bauer (4-3, 1.74), while game two matches Mitch Keller (1-1, 3.52), making his first start since August 1st, against Anthony DeSclafani (1-2, 7.20). You can watch both games live on AT&T Sportsnet or listen on 93.7 The Fan. Game one starts at 4:10 pm followed by game two a half-hour after the conclusion of the first game.

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