Another Bullpen Day for the Cincinnati Reds as They Look to Get Back on Track

The Cincinnati Reds (62-66) have been a borderline playoff contender for most of the season but haven't been able to stack wins and break through. In their last 50 games, the Reds are legitimately 25-25. As Reds legend and Bally Sports Cincinnati broadcaster Barry Larkin put it, "You don't win playing .500 baseball."

With 34 games to go, the Reds are on the cusp of elimination.

Now that Andrew Abbott has hit the IL, the Reds are employing another bullpen day (or, at the very least, they're pitching a bullpen pitcher). Buck Farmer (2-0, 2.67 ERA) makes his first start since June 8, 2019.

Out of the bullpen, Farmer has appeared in 47 games and pitched 57 1/3 innings for the Reds this season. He has 34 scoreless outings this year and 18 where he didn't allow a single hit.

It's business as usual in the lineup:

1.) 2B Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) C Tyler Stephenson
4.) LF Spencer Steer
5.) 1B Ty France
6.) CF Stuart Fairchild
7.) RF Amed Rosario
8.) 3B Santiago Espinal
9.) DH Noelvi Marte
SP Buck Farmer

The Pirates will throw lefty Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.02 ERA). Friday marks the 22nd start by Falter in 2024. Overall, he's been a fine starter for Pittsburgh with just as many solid starts as he does rough.

In August, he made three starts and has allowed six earned runs over 11 2/3 innings. However, Falter has given up 17 hits with three walks in that timeframe.

In his last outing, Falter tied his career-best with eight strikeouts.

This will be his sixth start and eighth overall appearance against the Reds. He's made two previous starts against the Reds this year alone. In his first start, the Reds managed seven hits and two walks for two runs but handed him and the Pirates a loss. His next start was also against the Reds and this time, Falter pitched four innings and allowed five hits and one walk for four runs and the loss.

The Pirates will look to replicate their seven-run onslaught from a night ago:

1.) 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2.) DH Bryan Reynolds
3.) SS Oneil Cruz
4.) C Joey Bart
5.) 1B Rowdy Tellez
6.) RF Bryan De La Cruz
7.) LF Billy McKinney
8.) 3B Jared Triolo
9.) CF Ji Hwan Bae