The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Thursday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Pirates vs Reds pick.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
The Reds just finished up a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cincinnati took a 6-3 win Monday and a 10-3 loss in game two. In the Wednesday rubber match the Reds posted an 11-7 victory. Starter Nick Martinez put up 4.1 innings with six earned runs.
As starter for Thursday the Reds are sending out Nick Lodolo. This year Lodolo is 9-5 with a 4.55 ERA in 20 starts. Lodolo is 15-13 with a 4.42 ERA in 46 career starts.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they played the Texas Rangers in their last set. Pittsburgh lost 4-3 in the opener then came back for a 4-0 win Tuesday. On Wednesday the Pirates took a tough loss 1-0. Starter Domingo German went 6.0 clean frames with three hits and four walks.
In the starting pitcher slot Thursday the Pirates will go with Paul Skenes. This year Skenes is 7-2 with a 2.30 ERA in the first 16 starts of his career. The Pirates will face the Cubs following this series.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Pirates’ last five night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Reds’ last five night games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last eight home games against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last four games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Joey Bart has scored at least one run in six of his last seven home appearances.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 16 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jared Triolo has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Pirates’ last five night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Bryan Reynolds has hit at least one home run in each of the Pirates’ last two night games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five home appearances against the Reds after playing the previous day.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Single in each of his last nine appearances in night games.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 16 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Nick Lodolo has recorded six or more strikeouts in nine of his 10 previous appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- TJ Friedl has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Pirates.
- Spencer Steer has recorded a Double in four of the Reds’ last five night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one Single in nine of his last 10 appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 12 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Nick Lodolo has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Tyler Stephenson has scored at least one run in seven of the Reds’ last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Spencer Steer has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last eight road appearances.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances after playing the previous day.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Reds. With Skenes on the mound I could go either way, though. Lodolo certainly needs a good bounce-back after his last start. On August 17 versus the Royals, Lodolo took a rough loss with eight earned on eight hits and two walks in 2.1 innings. In his previous two starts, Lodolo went 1-0 with five earned in 11.1 innings.
On Wednesday the Reds were able to come back from a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning. Cincinnati bagged five runs in the fifth frame on the way to 11 team hits. Martinez had a rough outing but the offense came through. This one’s likely to be a lower-scoring matchup, but I think the Reds have a reasonable shot.