The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Sunday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the final 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 played the Toronto Blue Jays this week. Cincinnati lost 10-3 Tuesday but managed wins in the other pair. After a pair of losses in the first two games to the Pirates 7-0 and 6-5, on Saturday the Reds cruised to a blowout win 10-2.
In the starter role for the Reds on Sunday will be Nick Martinez. This year Martinez is 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA in 35 games (nine starts). He’s 33-44 with a 4.22 career ERA in 233 games (96 starts).
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they took on the Texas Rangers this week. Pittsburgh won 4-0 Tuesday but dropped the other pair. On Saturday the Pirates were out-hit 12-3 in the defeat.
Luis Ortiz will take the mound for the Pirates in the finale. This year Ortiz is 5-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 31 games (nine starts). In his career Ortiz is 10-11 with a 4.15 ERA in 53 games (28 starts).
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Pirates’ last eight day games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Eight of the Reds’ last nine day games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last 10 day games against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last five day games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Joey Bart has scored at least one run in each of his last six home appearances after playing the previous day.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in seven of the Pirates’ last eight day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six home appearances against the Reds.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Rowdy Tellez has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances against the Reds after playing the previous day.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Spencer Steer has recorded a Double in three of the Reds’ last four games against NL opponents.
- Tyler Stephenson has scored at least one run in each of his last six appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Tyler Stephenson has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 appearances after playing the previous day.
- Tyler Stephenson has recorded a Single in each of his last six appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Santiago Espinal has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances in day games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 15 appearances after playing the previous day.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’ll probably lean toward Pittsburgh but I’m not touching this one. Ortiz has taken a couple of losses in his last three starts, posting a total of 10 earned runs in 17.0 innings on 12 hits and four walks. The good news is that Ortiz has gotten through at least five innings in each of those.
On Sunday the Pirates couldn’t get much going against the Reds’ pitching. Cincinnati used only Julian Aguiar and Casey Kelly to take care of business. Pittsburgh is going to need a wakeup call on both sides in order to rebound for the finale.