The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the second 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
Early this week the Reds played the Toronto Blue Jays. Cincinnati lost 6-3 in the opener of that set before a 10-3 blowout loss in game two. In the rubber match the Reds took an 11-7 win. In Thursday’s game versus the Pirates, the Reds took a 7-0 blowout loss. Starter Nick Lodolo finished with 4.2 innings and five earned.
In the starter role for the Reds on Friday it’ll be Andrew Abbott. This year Abbott is 10-10 with a 3.72 ERA in 25 starts. Abbott is 18-16 with a 3.78 ERA in 46 career starts.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they took on the Texas Rangers in their last series. Pittsburgh lost 4-3 Monday but came back for a 4-0 win the next day. On Wednesday the Pirates took a tough loss 1-0. In the opener versus the Reds, Pittsburgh scored six runs in the fifth inning alone. Bryan De La Cruz had three hits, a run and three RBI all by himself.
As starting pitcher for Friday the Pirates will go with Bailey Falter. So far Falter is 6-7 with a 4.02 ERA in 21 starts. Falter is 16-21 with a 4.50 ERA in 81 career games (52 starts).
Total Runs Facts
- Five of the Pirates’ last six night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Reds’ last six 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 nine home games against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last five games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four home appearances against the Reds.
- Yasmani Grandal has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances after playing the previous day.
- Rowdy Tellez has recorded at least one Double in each of his last three appearances with his team as a home favorite against the Reds.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 17 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- 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 17 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Joey Bart has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight home appearances.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Tyler Stephenson has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Spencer Steer has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- TJ Friedl has hit a home run in three of his last five appearances against the Pirates.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one Double in three of the Reds’ last four games against the Pirates.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one Single in 10 of his last 11 appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’m leaning toward trying Pittsburgh. I could probably go either way, though. Falter is coming off a victory over the Mariners, posting two earned on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Prior to that Falter had four earned in 6.0 innings on nine hits and three walks across two outings.
On Thursday the Pirates had one big inning paired with a great pitching performance. Behind Paul Scenes (6.0 innings; two hits; one walk), the bullpen provided 3.0 innings with three hits and one walk. I like Pittsburgh to keep rolling Friday, but I could also see the Reds striking back.