The 2021 edition of the Battle of Ohio gets under way tonight when the Cincinnati Reds host Cleveland at Great American Ball Park.
Today's 7:10 p.m. meeting starts a three-game series that continues Saturday (4:10 p.m.) and Sunday (1:10 p.m.).
What do you need to know about the interstate rivalry?
1. Cleveland is on a roll
The Reds have only won the season series once since 2011 and that was in 2014. Cleveland has won 10 of 14 games over the past three seasons.
Both teams enter tonight with 7-5 records.
The team that wins the season series gets the Ohio Cup trophy.
2. Reds are better at home
Since interleague play started in 1997, Cleveland leads the series with the Reds 66-51. But in games in Cincinnati, Cleveland is 29-28 (vs. 37-23 at home).
3. Sweeps are rare
Since 1997, only once has one team swept the season series.
That was in 2016, when Cleveland won all four games against the Reds. That was also the year Cleveland went to the World Series before losing to the Cubs.
4. Familiar foes
While the teams typically play up to six times during the regular season, they also play exhibition games in Arizona, as they did in Florida when both trained there.
Speaking of familiarity: Reds outfielder Tyler Naquin spent the past five seasons with Cleveland, appearing in 325 games.
5. Until we meet again
The teams square off again for three games in Cleveland on May 7-9. They haven't played six games in a season since 2018.
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