Opponent: Cincinnati Reds (69-71).

Times: 7:10 p.m. today, 6:10 p.m. tomorrow, 1:15 p.m. Sunday.

TV, radio: Today on FSN Pittsburgh, all games on KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network.

Starting matchups: RHP Ian Snell (12-9, 4.83) vs. RHP Kyle Lohse (1-2, 3.26), LHP Paul Maholm (7-10, 4.91) vs. RHP Aaron Harang (13-10, 3.78), LHP Shane Youman (major-league debut) vs. RHP Bronson Arroyo (12-9, 3.33).

Season series: Cincinnati, 6-4.

Three things to know about the Reds: 1. The wild-card lead they held for 46 days -- July 14-Aug. 29 -- is fading into a fantasy. They have lost 10 of 12, largely because their usually potent lineup has slumped to .224 in that span. As manager Jerry Narron told reporters in Cincinnati, "We aren't exactly exploding offensively." 2. SS Rich Aurilia has the lone hot bat since the All-Star break: .342 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs. 3. CF Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the series after a toe was dislocated while making a leaping attempt at a Barry Bonds home run Monday.

The Pirates' key to success: Keep the ball in the yard. That is never an easy task in Cincinnati -- only two homerless games there all season -- but it is especially important to Snell, who has given up 15 in his past 12 starts.

The intangible: The Pirates will face Arroyo for the first time since he ticked them off May 17, saying after giving up four runs in a 7-2 Cincinnati loss: "If I can't stand on the mound and feel comfortable against that lineup, then something's wrong with me."

On deck: Back home for three with the Brewers.