Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Cincinnati is terrible on the road and falling out of the pennant race. Offense is the biggest problem, 28th in baseball in runs scored and on base percentage, plus 27th in slugging. The Reds are 7-19 in their last 26 road games and 2-7 against a team with a winning record. Even ace Johnny Cueto can't get it done away from home, with the Reds 2-8 in his last 10 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. Meanwhile, the home team is talented and motivated. Pittsburgh has no such offensive problems, second in OBP, 12th in runs, eighth in slugging. Behind some exceptional pitching, the Pirates have taken the first two games of the series to pull within a game of St. Louis for the NL's second wild card. They have held the Reds to a total of seven hits while recording a pair of wins. Pirates lefty Francisco Liriano (3.98) has thrown better than his record posting four quality starts and blanking St. Louis for six innings in a no-decision on Monday. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of eight appearances. Play the Pittsburgh Pirates.