Pirates Look To Solve Cueto

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Cincinnati Reds fans

love RumBunter because we hate the Reds.  As expected, the Pittsburgh Pirates are proving to be the thorn in the side of Cincinnati.  It helped when Marty Brennamen gives the young Bucs bulletin board material before the season even started.

Today’s Reds starter Johnny Cueto has been the thorn in the side of the Bucs.  The NL Central leading Reds have feasted on the rest of the division this season (19 wins 7 losses) while Cueto has ripped through the Bucs.

Against the Bucs, Cueto is Cy Young-like with a 7-0 record with a 1.74 ERA in his last nine starts.  Since coming back from injury Cueto has been just as tough.  He went six scoreless against the Cubs and pitched into the eighth against the St. Louis Cardinals last time out.

Pirates starter James McDonald wasn’t impressive against the Reds in his April 16 start. The right hander gave up seven runs and got 13 outs.

Working the fastball up and down will be the key for JMac as he keeps his curveball down.  McDonald wasn’t able to do that last time out, and the Brewers lit him up for five runs on six hits and got only 12 outs.  But keep an eye on his location this afternoon if you are able to watch, he had it going in his starts before the Brew Crew worked him.

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