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Reds need to beat Pirates, get help elsewhere to stay alive

Sep 30, 2006 - 2:47 PM Cincinnati (80-80) at Pittsburgh (65-95) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds could receive their sentencing Saturday before they even get to present their side of the case.

The Reds need the St. Louis Cardinals to lose Saturday afternoon and must beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at night in order to stay alive in the National League Central Division.

Cincinnati currently trails St. Louis by 2 1/2 games with only two to play. However, the Cardinals may need to take part in a one-game makeup with the San Francisco Giants on Monday and technically can still be caught by the Reds.

If St. Louis wins Saturday afternoon, Cincinnati is eliminated from the postseason hunt.

But if the Cardinals lose, the Reds will look to keep their season alive behind Bronson Arroyo (14-10, 3.27 ERA), who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts.

The lanky righthander yielded four runs - all unearned - in seven innings of Monday's eventual 5-4 triumph over the Chicago Cubs.

A member of the Pirates from 2000-02, Arroyo is 1-1 with a 3.86 in two career games against his former team - both contests coming this season. He also is one win shy of setting a new career high as his record currently is identical to the one he had with Boston last season.

Pittsburgh counters with Marty McLeary (1-0, 3.38), who will be making just his second start of the season. The 31-year-old righthander allowed one run in five frames Sunday in an eventual 2-1 setback vs. San Diego.