Pirates-Reds Game 3 Preview

Apr 5, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates will wind up 22 hours of  baseball early this afternoon with the final game of their three game series.

The series has seen some all the weather elements snowy conditions,  frigid temperatures and the white stuff will that brought an inch of snow to the Cincinnati , but to the deciding game of the set after the teams split the first two.

Both decisions were rendered Tuesday, starting with the 5:30 p.m. ET conclusion of Monday night’s suspended game, leading to the rarity of three outcomes possibly within 24 hours.

The Reds will be after their first series win of the season, and the for the third time this season, this ballclub will be involved in another “aces” showdown.

Pittsburgh’s Francisco Liriano had three of his eight losses last season against the Reds. And Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto had Pirates fans’ chant of his name as he dropped the ball on the mound.

That, of course, occurred during the National League Wild Card game in PNC Park, which Cueto and the Reds lost, 6-2. So, you know Johnny will be out for some revenge.

Cueto has been the picture of consistency early this season, and remains winless despite a 2.14 ERA in three starts only because the Reds have scored one run while he has been on the mound.

“That’s something I can’t control,” said Cueto. “That’s up to the other part of the team. I always say I have to do my job. I have to throw seven, eight innings. I have to do my job and they have to do their job.”

Cueto has done the seven-inning part every time out, allowing 13 hits and five runs in those 21 innings, in which he has fanned 23.

Then, he has repeatedly been one of the league’s toughest hitters when healthy, with a sub-3.00 ERA every season since 2011.

First pitch is at 12:35pm, game will be on FSN OHIO and radio on 700 WLW. After this game, the Reds will hit the road, start of a 10 game road trip that will begin in Chicago against the Cubs and end with a trip down south to Atlanta against the Braves.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has a seven-game hitting streak going after he went 2-for-5 on Tuesday. Phillips has hit safely in 12 of his 14 games played this season and is hitting .328 with one homer and three RBIs overall for Cincinnati.

Liriano should provide a good test for Phillips’ hot streak. Phillips is 3-for-14 (.214) with one RBI in his career against the left-hander.