Reds at Pirates, Game 1: Preview and Lineups

The Cincinnati Reds are on the road for the first time this season, with the Pirates of Pittsburgh their opponent for the weekend. Of course, we’ve been waiting for the Reds since Monday, as weather banged their Tuesday clash with the Chicago Cubs prior to a scheduled off-day Wednesday, and it feels like a jillion years since we’ve had a chance to watch some baseball this first week.

It’s probably worth noting here that the forecast in Pittsburgh calls for rain and a low of 35 degrees tonight - and there’s a River Flood Advisory in effect until Saturday morning. Eesh.

Assuming things go as planned, Homer Bailey will get the start for the Reds opposite Steven Brault. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.

Cincinnati Lineup

Pittsburgh Lineup

Other Notes

• Especially with Scott Schebler’s elbow still apparently balky, it’s interesting to see Phil Ervin not get a shot in the lineup with a LHP on the mound.
• Similarly, it’s notable that Devin Mesoraco isn’t getting the start against a LHP, especially in a game being played in western PA. Whatever.
• We’ve not talked about it much (since the two-day break had us mostly napping), but MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon had some notes on Michael Lorenzen from late Tuesday, and they’re not exactly encouraging. I’m getting more and more of the impression that he’s going to be sidelined a lot longer than we all initially thought.
• Go Reds.