The Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Cincinnati Reds 7-0 to open a four-game set at PNC Park.

Paul Skenes earned his third straight win after throwing six-scoreless innings while Henry Davis and Bryan Reynolds each homered to pace the offense.

The Pirates (50-66) will look to make it back-to-back wins against the Reds (60-56) to start the series on Friday night behind Mitch Keller.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on Apple TV+ and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Sunshine overhead with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s. Winds SE at 5 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (5-10, 3.89 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller allowed five runs, four of which came on back-to-back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies the last time he toed the rubber.

The right-hander has totaled seven innings between his last two starts and has allowed eight runs on 12 hits.

In seven starts prior to his two most recent, Keller posted a 2.32 ERA while holding opponents to 30 hits across 42.2 innings.

Keller allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings against the Reds on May 19. He’s made 18 starts against Cincinnati in his career (the most he’s had against any team) and is 3-6 with a 5.75 ERA.

RHP Chase Burns (0-3, 6.04 ERA) Will Start for the Reds

Burns tossed only one inning against the Atlanta Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway before rain cut his outing short.

Prior to his rain-interrupted start, Burns went three-consecutive games in which he struck out 10 batters for a total of 30 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.

Since making his big-league debut on June 24, Burns’ 14.93 strikeouts per nine innings are the second-most in baseball behind the Rays Edwin Uceta (17.03) — min. 20 innings pitched.

This will be his first time facing the Pirates.

Reds Hitters vs. Keller

TJ Friedl: 2 for 21, one double, two RBI, two walks, three strikeouts
Tyler Stephenson: 5 for 20, one double, one triple, one home run, six RBI, six strikeouts
Spencer Steer: 7 for 19, three doubles, one home run, two RBI, two walks, two strikeouts
Jake Fraley: 5 for 15, two walks, two strikeouts
Elly De La Cruz: 2 for 13, one double, three walks, four strikeouts
Santiago Espinal: 2 for 9, one strikeout
Gavin Lux: 3 for 8, two doubles, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Austin Hays: 3 for 6, one double, one RBI, one strikeout
Matt McLain: 2 for 5, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Burns

Tidbits

Paul Skenes has made five consecutive starts at PNC Park without allowing an earned run, snapping a tie with Bob Harmon (1915) and Zane Smith (1990) for the longest streak of home starts without allowing an earned run by a Pirate since earned runs became an official statistic in the National League in 1912.
Skenes has tossed 22 straight scoreless innings against the Reds. In his career vs. Cincinnati, the right-hander has a 0.39 ERA across four starts (1er/23ip).
Bryan Reynolds’ home run was his first since June 29 against the New York Mets. Henry Davis’ homer was his first since June 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Links

Perrotto: Henry Davis Learning Baseball Sense

Henry Davis Gets Vote of Confidence From Paul Skenes After Pirates’ Battery Shines

Paul Skenes Keeps Dominating Reds; Pair of Homers Pace Pirates Win

‘It’s a Little Weird,’ Ke’Bryan Hayes on His Return to PNC Park Following Trade to Reds

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