Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds – September 20, 2024

After two straight significant losses to the Braves, the Cincinnati Reds (74-80) begin their final home series of the 2024 season this weekend. They face the Pittsburgh Pirates (72-81) and try to avoid finishing in last place in the NL Central. First pitch tonight is at 6:40 p.m. EDT.

Lineups

Starting pitchers

Mitch Keller

Right-hander Mitch Keller had a really good season in the middle months, but those good months were bookended by some bad months. Keller started 2024 with a 5.18 ERA in April, but then turned around with a sub-3.00 ERA in May and June and a serviceable 3.60 ERA in July. August has not been kind to him, however. Last month, he allowed 18 runs in 24.0 innings. He has been better this month, but he is still 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts in September.

The most striking thing about Keller's splits is the number of home runs he allows to left-handed hitters compared to right-handed hitters. Although he has faced only 29 more left-handed hitters, he has allowed them 11 more home runs compared to right-handed hitters. His opposing batting average is almost 20 points higher against left-handed hitters; however, he also strikes out left-handed hitters more and walks them less.

Divisions

Pitch usage

Nick Martinez

In a perfect world, right-hander Nick Martinez would have been the long man in the bullpen all season. However, we don't live in a perfect world, and Martinez has been one of the Reds' best and most versatile pitchers this season, providing them with much-needed innings both as a relief pitcher early in the season and as a starter late in the season when the Reds were down to two starting pitchers.

Martinez is also getting closer to his own career numbers. He is just two strikeouts away from his career-high of 106 last year with the San Diego Padres. He is also just 12 innings away from his career-high in innings pitched. In his rookie season with the Texas Rangers in 2014, he threw 140.1 innings. The most impressive stat for Martinez, however, is his walk rate. He has allowed just 18 walks in 128.1 innings. With a career ball/9 rate of 2.9, he has never been the type of pitcher to walk a lot of batters. This year, however, he seems to be on a different level. Currently, Martinez has allowed the fewest walks of his career. While he allowed 19 walks in 2016, he has only pitched 38.2 innings this year. In 2024, his BB/9 is a sparkling 1.3.

Divisions

Pitch usage

Game details:

• Time: 6:40 p.m. EDT
• Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Weather: 90 degrees, mostly sunny, 0 percent chance of rain
• TV: Bally Sports Ohio
• Radio: 700 WLW

News and information

Today’s squad change

That seems to be the order of the day these days. The Reds made another small roster change today to bring in rested bullpen players for the weekend series.

Down on the farm

The Reds named three young talents from High-A Dayton to the Minor League All-Star teams this week.

Most minor league teams are done for the year, but Triple-A Louisville is still playing. See how they did yesterday and who they're playing tonight.