Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

Pittsburgh won its opener 5-4, but then lost 6-2 on Saturday while getting only seven hits. The Pirates will look to bounce back with Vince Velasquez on the mound and Cincinnati hitters who have faced him are a combined 2-for-15 against Velasquez. Graham Ashcraft starts for the Reds and he was 5-6 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.42 WHIP overall last year and 2-2 and 5.10 on the road. The Pirates faced him once and scored three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh has won eight of the past nine meetings and five of six at Cincinnati. The Reds are 6-20 versus the NL Central and they have lost 21 of 28 overall dating to last year and 18 of 23 versus right-handed starters. Take the Pirates.