When: Today and Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.; Thursday, 12:35 p.m.

        Where: Cinergy Field.

        Probable starting pitchers (2000 records, ERAs in parentheses): Today, RHP Osvaldo Fernandez (4-3, 3.62) vs. RHP Todd Ritchie (9-8, 4.81); Wednesday, RHP Chris Reitsma (major-league debut) vs. LHP Terry Mulholland (9-9, 5.11); Thursday, RHP Elmer Dessens (11-5, 4.28) vs. LHP Jimmy Anderson (5-11, 5.25).

        The bats: Aramis Ramirez (.354), Adrian Brown (.316), Enrique Wilson (.312) and Brian Giles (.311) had big springs for Pittsburgh. John Vander Wal (.441) was the most effective hitter against Cincinnati last year, along with Giles and Jason Kendall (.333 apiece).

        The arms: The Reds will miss Pirates ace Kris Benson, who is sidelined with elbow trouble. Reliever Scott Sauerbeck, the former Northwest High School and Miami University star, had a 1.17 ERA in nine innings against the Reds last year.

        The rest: Cincinnati was 7-6 against Pittsburgh last year, including 3-3 at Cinergy Field.

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