I'll make this prediction right now - if the Cincinnati Reds pick up a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night - they will finish above them in the final NL Central standings:
- Pittsburgh All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen was nailed by a 101-mph fastball by Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman on Friday night - saying this after the game, "It just pumped us up, and that's the feeling we're going to take on the field Saturday."
- The Pirates are 15-2 on Saturdays this year, winning their last eight in that situation
- The Pirates are 8-3 in their last 11 games at this ballpark
- SP James McDonald is 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his last six outings against the Reds, and he will not have to face Reds 1B Joey Votto (7 for 22 against him)
- Reds SP Mike Leake is 1-4 with a 6.04 ERA in 11 home starts, allowing 11 HRs in 56.2 combined frames, which doesn't match up well against a Pirates team that leads the NL in round trippers on the road (75)
These two pitchers faced off with umpire Brian Gorman behind the plate in July of last year, with the Pirates coming away with a 1-0 home victory
It's safe to say I'll take the underdog in what should be one of the most contentious regular-season baseball games this year