(My Sportsbook) - Right-hander Johnny Cueto looks to make it four straight outings without a loss today, when the
Cincinnati Reds visit PNC Park for the finale of a three-game weekend series with the
Pittsburgh Pirates.
A 23-year-old Dominican, Cueto opened his 2009 season with a 10-2 loss to the Pirates in Cincinnati, but is unbeaten in three starts since - winning once and picking up a pair of no-decisions while throwing 18 2/3 innings.
He blanked the Chicago Cubs on four hits over seven rounds in a 3-0 triumph at Wrigley Field on April 22, then allowed seven hits and a run in seven innings of the Reds' 4-1 loss to Houston on Monday.
In three starts against the Pirates in 2008, Cueto was 2-1 while allowing 18 hits and eight earned runs in 16 innings.
For Pittsburgh, right-hander Jeff Karstens will also try for a fourth straight start without a loss when he takes the mound today.
The 26-year-old has a win and two no-decisions in three trips to the mound this season, defeating Florida on April 21 and getting no verdict against Houston and Milwaukee on April 16 and 27, respectively.
In 15 total innings of work, Karstens has surrendered 12 hits and nine runs.
Karstens has faced the Reds once in his career, dropping a decision last August after allowing seven hits and three earned runs in seven innings.
On Saturday, Andy LaRoche and Ramon Vazquez each had two RBI to help the Pirates take an 8-6 decision over the Reds and even this series.
Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI for the Pirates, who snapped a four-game slide, while Nyjer Morgan scored twice.
Bucs starter Ross Ohlendorf (3-2) got the win after he gave up just three runs on six hits with two walks in six innings.
Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer for the Reds, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Adam Rosales had three hits, one run scored and one driven in during the loss.
Micah Owings (1-3) was charged with the loss for Cincinnati after giving up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
These teams split a rain-shortened two-game series earlier in the year, but Pittsburgh is 11-8 in the series since the start of last season.
