The Battle for the Bottom

It seems like the Pirates are involved in more of these "Battle of the Worsts" than any team should be (or any group of fans should be humanly expected to follow). Still, that won't stop this four-gamer against the Reds from actually being played. The Reds have the worst record in the National League and the Pirates are playing some of the worst baseball. If the recent series is any indication this is probably just what the Reds need to pull out of this funk they're in.

Paul Maholm will take the mound tonight to try and end the five-game losing streak. That's not really a comforting statement. Aaron Harang will face off against him for the Reds. Subjectively, it seems to me that Harang has owned us the past couple of years. The splits kind of bear it out, he's 10-3 against us in his career despite a 4.50 ERA. It's probably the strikeouts, he's K'd 90 Pirates in 94 innings of work. Somehow, I get the feeling that the trend will continue tonight.