CINCINNATI -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost seven of 11 and are clinging to slim hopes of securing one of the two National League wild card spots. The Pirates trail by six games for the coveted second spot and have three teams to leapfrog.Injuries have been a common theme. Gerrit Cole was shut down for the season this week. The Pirates have used 54 players this season, eclipsing the franchise record of 52 in 2011.We did set the record, and we gave it some gap, right? manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday. Im guessing we need to be done. If we need any more, I think weve got another challenge on our hands.The Pirates playoff chase continues Friday when they begin a four-game series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, where more protective gear might be needed.Over the past four seasons, Reds pitchers have hit 51 batters, including 18 this season, the most by any major league staff against any opponent. Pirates pitchers have hit 45 Reds batters, including nine in 2016, second-most of any staff.And, Pittsburgh doesnt just plunk the Reds.Over the past four seasons, Pirates pitchers lead the major leagues in number of batters hit. Going into their series finale on Wednesday at Philadelphia, the Pirates had hit 295 batters, following by the Reds 264 and White Sox 243.Taking aim on Friday will be right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, whos 5-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 22 career appearances including 12 starts.Vogelsongs last outing against Cincinnati didnt go well. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits and walked three in an 8-0 loss at PNC Park on Sunday.He missed nearly two months after being struck near the left eye by a Jordan Lyles pitch on May 23. He suffered facial fractures but managed to return in early August.Right-hander Robert Stephenson, one of the Reds top pitching prospects, will make his fifth career appearance and third start since he was promoted in September.Stephenson was the first Reds pitcher to win his first two major league starts since Larry Luebbers in 1993.The Pirates come in with some momentum after Andrew McCutchen hit two homers in a 15-2 win at Philadelphia.Cincinnati has gone 30-26 since the All-Star break, including winning five of its last six. But, the Reds do have some injuries with shortstop Zack Cozart missing four games with a sore knee and center fielder Billy Hamilton out indefinitely with a strained left oblique.Its always a high-tension affair when these two NL Central rivals square off, and this seasons series has been evenly played. Pittsburgh has gone 7-8 this season against the Reds including 2/3 at Great American Ball Park.On Saturday, theyll play a day-night doubleheader. The first game beginning at 12:10 p.m. EST will make up the May 10 game which was rained out. The second game will begin at approximately 6:10 p.m. Brad Daugherty Cavaliers Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Rodney Hood Cavaliers Jersey . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/Brandon-Knight-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Darius Garland Cavaliers Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Dean Wade Cavaliers Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Washington State football players Robert Barber and?T.J. Fehoko?were arrested and released Friday morning, and the Pullman Police Department is recommending charges of second-degree?assault for both stemming from a brawl at a house party in July.Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins was joined by WSU athletic director Bill Moos at a news conference Friday afternoon, when they announced the arrests. Jenkins said his department is also recommending charges of disorderly conduct in provoking a physical altercation for two other students who dont play football -- Dylan Rollins and Pedro Diaz.Barber, 22, is accused of punching student Jackson Raney in the head twice -- once while he was on the ground -- that led to a concussion. Investigators determined that Fehoko, 19, punched student Alex Rodriguez, who suffered a broken jaw.The recommendations will be sent next week to the Whitman County Prosecutor. Jenkins also announced that they have referred two other cases involving WSU football players to the prosecutors office. They are recommending second-degree assault charges for safety Shalom Luani from an incident in August and robbery charges for Logan Tago from an incident in June.It was reported Thursday evening that Barber has already been expelled by the student conduct board. Hes appealing that decision and is still a member of the football team. Moos said whether Barbber plays Saturday against Idaho is up to head coach Mike Leach.ddddddddddddThe status is with coach Leach, Moos said. Both players, their case is before the prosecutor, and I think we would wait till after that part of the process is finished. Right now, its up to coach Leach.Jenkins stressed that no one has been charged and that these are only recommendations. The ultimate decision rests with the prosecutor. He attributed the length of the investigation to the amount of people they needed to interview. He said investigators talked to more than 60 witnesses -- including 22 football players. A third player who is no longer on the roster, Dylan Axelson, will not face charges since investigators determined he acted in self-defense.This wraps a tumultuous week for the Washington State football program that started Monday with Leach blasting his 0-2 team for a lack of toughness. On Tuesday, after news broke of Tagos arrest, Leach implied that the Pullman Police Dept. was targeting football players. Thursday, Jenkins met with Moos and WSU president Kirk Schulz to address the growing tension between the police and the football program.Jenkins said he has seen significant improvement in athlete behavior and considers these incidents anomalies. ' ' '