After Todd Frazier picked up where he left off last season in a season-opening victory, the host Cincinnati Reds are hoping he can continue his home-run barrage against Pittsburgh Pirates pitching.
As Frazier looks to build on his late go-ahead homer, Mike Leake will try to avoid his first loss to the Pirates since 2012 on Wednesday night as he tries to deal Pittsburgh its first 0-2 start since 2006.
The Reds moved Frazier into the third spot in the batting order Monday after he finished with career highs of 29 home runs and 80 RBIs en route to his first All-Star appearance in 2014.
The slugging third baseman played that role appropriately enough in the opener, belting a three-run homer in the eighth inning to help Cincinnati break open a tie game in a 5-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.
"That was one of those no-doubters that come off the bat perfectly," Frazier said. "That was huge. We talk about finishing games. I was the guy. It will probably be somebody else next time."
Frazier could certainly end up being that guy again since he's hitting .293 with 12 homers in 26 meetings with the Pirates since the start of 2013. His only hit in six career at-bats versus Gerrit Cole was a two-run home run in a 7-5 home win last April.
Cole (11-5, 3.65 ERA) allowed five runs and nine hits over six innings in that start, but did not get a decision there Sept. 28 despite holding the Reds to one run while tying a career high with 12 strikeouts over seven in a 4-1 defeat.
After he spent 70 days on the disabled list last season due to shoulder injuries, Cole is focused on helping the Pirates avoid their first 0-2 start since dropping their first six nine years ago.
"I've got to stay healthy. I've got to start 30 games, pitch the whole season and contribute as much as I can," Cole said. "We have a lot of veterans and veteran presence, so my role is real simple - to go out there and pitch."
The right-hander will have to be careful with Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, who had productive openers after injury-shortened 2014 seasons. Votto finished with two hits and Bruce delivered a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Votto has also gone 2 for 2 lifetime versus Cole and is 20 for 53 (.377) with a .500 on-base percentage over his last 15 games against the Pirates.
Leake (11-13, 3.70) hit a home run and a double off Cole in their matchup last April. He also allowed three runs while fanning eight over 6 2-3 innings for his fourth consecutive victory in the series.
The right-hander has gone 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 starts versus Pittsburgh dating to September 2012, though the Reds dropped his last four outings in last season's series. Leake gave up just one run over 14 innings while receiving two total runs of support in his final two outings of 2014 against the Pirates.
