The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the third 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 took on the Toronto Blue Jays in their last series. Cincinnati lost Tuesday but otherwise took a pair of wins to get a series victory. On Thursday in the opener versus the Pirates, the Reds fell 7-0. In game two, Cincinnati took a 6-5 loss. Buck Farmer kicked things off with 2.0 clean frames and two Ks.
For the Saturday game the Reds didn’t announce a starter.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they played the Texas Rangers in their last set. Pittsburgh won Tuesday but fell in the other two games. On Friday the Pirates were out-hit 9-8 in the win. Starter Bailey Falter logged 5.0 innings with five earned runs.
Starter for the Saturday matchup will be Pittsburgh’s Jake Woodford. This year Woodford is 0-5 with a 6.67 ERA in seven games (five starts). Woodford is 10-12 with a 4.59 ERA in 87 career games (23 starts).
Total Runs Facts
- Six of the Reds’ last seven night games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Six of the Pirates’ last seven home games have gone OVER the total runs line.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Single in each of his last nine appearances in night games.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 18 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Joey Bart has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine home appearances.
- Yasmani Grandal has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 18 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five home appearances against the Reds.
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five home appearances against the Reds.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Tyler Stephenson has scored at least one run in each of his last six 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 14 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Tyler Stephenson has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Tyler Stephenson has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one Double in three of the Reds’ last four games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine Saturday night appearances against teams that held a losing record.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Reds. Some of that comes from shaky performances by Woodford lately. In his last trio, Woodford does have a nice start with 6.0 innings and one earned versus the Padres. In the other pair he’s combined for eight earned in 6.1 innings though, and Woodford is 0-3 in the trio.
On Friday the Reds blew a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning and couldn’t get anything going versus Pittsburgh’s pen. Cincinnati needs to avoid a blowup on the mound Saturday but I think they’ve got a good chance at bouncing back.