First-place Reds carry 5-series winning streak into Pittsburgh

The Cincinnati Reds begin May atop the National League Central standings, having won five consecutive series heading into a seven-game road trip that begins Friday night in Pittsburgh.

Cincinnati's 20-11 record is the team's best 31-game start since 2006 and also marks the first time in franchise history that the Reds won 20 games in a season before May 1.

Cincinnati has lost just two series all season but one of them was to the Pirates from March 30-April 1.

Brady Singer (2-1, 4.97 ERA), who picked up wins in two of his past three starts, will pitch the series opener for the Reds. He will be opposed by fellow right-hander Mitch Keller (2-1, 3.18).

Singer is 2-4 with a 6.37 ERA in six career starts against the Pirates but is 0-3 with a 6.59 ERA in three starts at Pittsburgh. Keller, meanwhile, is 3-6 with a 5.59 ERA in 19 career starts against the Reds.

Cincinnati, which is a major-league-best 10-3 on the road this season, has played just one series against a National League Central foe, when it dropped two out of three against the Pirates. After going just 26-26 in division play last season, winning games against NL Central opponents is a major focus going forward for the Reds.

"Anytime you play a divisional opponent, it's huge," said outfielder TJ Friedl, who hit a two-run, go-ahead homer in Cincinnati's 6-4 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Thursday. "It's a big week coming up for us, and we're playing good ball. And we're just gonna keep it rolling."

Reds first baseman/designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe homered again in the Thursday victory, his fifth in the past six games. He had no long balls in his previous 14 games this year.

Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott allowed two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out five and walking two. He picked up his first win of the season.

Following the three games in Pittsburgh, the Reds head to Chicago for four games against the second-place Cubs.

"Divisional games are always huge," Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Just got to continue what we've been doing this upcoming series. Just keep finding a way to win series and we're gonna be in a good spot."

Pittsburgh, in last place, 4 1/2 games behind the Reds, brings a five-game losing streak into the contest after a 10-5 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

It was a rare off day for reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who gave up a leadoff homer to JJ Wetherholt and a two-run shot to Jordan Walker in the first inning. Skenes, who allowed just one hit in seven innings during his previous start at Milwaukee, gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings on Thursday.

He struck out a season-high nine batters without issuing a walk.

"Every team is going to have skids," Skenes said. "Just got to get back to who we are, just our game, not try to do too much. Just got to be us."

Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, who hit his eighth home run of the season and also doubled in the loss, agreed.

"It's just kind of the way baseball rolls," Lowe said. "There's going to be ups and downs, peaks and valleys. ... Flush it. Reset yourself. We've got another good team coming in (Friday)."

--Field Level Media