Nick Lodolo vs. Paul Skenes Highlights The First of Four Reds Games at Pittsburgh

For the first time in history, the Cincinnati Reds (62-65) took a series in Toronto from the Toronto Blue Jays. While the NL Central is a tad out of reach (11.5 games back), the Reds are still fighting for that last wild card spot, only 5.5 games back. With four games at the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team could make a dent.

Nick Lodolo (9-5, 4.55 ERA) is looking to get back on track. In Lodolo's first 11 starts, he was borderline elite. He was 9-2 with a 2.76 ERA and had eight starts of two earned runs allowed or less. Since then, he's made nine starts (including his rain-delayed, blister-influenced start at the end of June).

Lodolo has a 7.15 ERA in those starts with two eight-run outings. Unfortunately for the Reds, one of those starts came five days ago, his most recent start.

Cincinnati is expecting Lodolo to be their number-two starter behind Hunter Green. With only a handful of starts remaining in 2024, he needs to get back to his old self. The two starts before his eight-run implosion were strong (five hits, five runs, 11 strikeouts, two Reds wins).

After 11 unanswered runs last night, the Reds' lineup looks to stay hot with two new faces:

1.) DH Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) LF Spencer Steer
4.) CF TJ Friedl
5.) RF Amed Rosario
6.) 2B Santiago Espinal
7.) 1B Dominic Smith
8.) 3B Noelvi Marte
9.) C Luke Maile
SP Nick Lodolo

Paul Skenes (7-2, 2.30 ERA) has been one of baseball's most exciting pitchers as a rookie. He's made just 16 starts but has already accumulated 4.0 bWAR. In those 16 starts, Skenes has three scoreless outings of at least six innings.

His shortest start on the year was his first, a four-inning outing. Skenes has allowed more than two runs just three times. He has an 11.11 K/9 and a 0.969 WHIP.

The Reds faced Skenes on June 17 and he pitched six innings and allowed just one run off six hits and one walk.

The Pirates' lineup averaged 6.7 runs per game in the last series against the Reds:

1.) 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2.) LF Bryan Reynolds
3.) DH Joey Bart
4.) RF Bryan De La Cruz
5.) SS Oneil Cruz
6.) 1B Connor Joe
7.) 3B Jared Triolo
8.) C Yasmani Grandal
9.) CF Michael A. Taylor
SP Paul Skenes