The host Pittsburgh Pirates look to continue their early-season dominance of the Cincinnati Reds with a three-game series sweep when the National League Central rivals meet Sunday.
The Pirates have outscored the Reds 26-8 in the first two games, while the Reds have used catcher Jose Trevino as a position player pitcher in each of the first two games and for three of their last four games. Cincinnati has dropped three of four, getting outscored 39-10 in the losses.
The Reds led Saturday’s game 2-0 in the first before losing 17-7. It was only Cincinnati’s second loss in 15 games when scoring first. The Pirates, who won a three-game series over the host Reds in early April, won for just the third time in 13 games when the opponent scores first.
“This is a humbling game,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said. “I mean it hurts, but we better get over it in a hurry.”
Nick Gonzales continues to be one of the hotter hitters for Pittsburgh, running his on-base streak to 13 games by going 2-for-5 with a walk in Saturday’s rout. Rookie Konnor Griffin went 4-for-5 to raise his average from .232 to .260 while also contributing two RBIs.
The Pirates send right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.71 ERA) to the mound in the series finale. Ashcraft has emerged as a key component of the rotation, solidifying his role as a reliable starter following a strong rookie campaign.
Coming off his first fully healthy offseason — a major milestone after previous Tommy John and shoulder surgeries — the 26-year-old has utilized his improved conditioning to step into a high-leverage role. Through his first five starts, Ashcraft demonstrated elite form, posting a 1.01 WHIP over 29 2/3 innings, establishing himself as a significant breakout candidate.
Following a 2025 rookie season where he posted a 2.71 ERA over 26 appearances (eight starts), the Pirates placed increased trust in Ashcroft to manage a heavier workload, with the goal of expanding into a 30-start pitcher.
“It was fun to get a body of work in throughout the offseason, as opposed to just trying to get healthy again,” Ashcraft said. “When you’re not trying to focus on getting healthy, it’s a lot easier to work on (other things) in the offseason.”
Despite a rocky outing in late April after returning from a family medical emergency, Ashcraft’s overall performance has been steady. Ashcraft has struck out 39 in 34 innings.
The Reds counter with right-hander Chase Burns (3-1, 2.65). He has established himself as a force to be reckoned with, stepping into a pivotal role following injuries to the team’s veteran rotation. Like Ashcroft, the 23-year-old Burns has 39 strikeouts across 34 innings.
After a 2025 rookie season plagued by a late-year elbow injury and mixed results, the 2024 second-overall pick has shown improved command and resilience.
“The celebration is over about making it to the big leagues,” Burns said. “I got to face some adversity. It’s just up from there.”
–Field Level Media
