The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action from PNC Park. The Reds just finished up against the Marlins, losing two of three games for a series defeat. As for the Pirates, their last set was against the Braves. After losing two of the first three games there, in the Thursday finale Pittsburgh won by two to tie the series. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Cincinnati Reds 

The Reds managed a 5-2 win over the Marlins on Monday but then folded in losses 3-2 and 5-4 in the remaining pair. On Wednesday in the loss, Cincinnati’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a nice game with two hits, a homer and three RBI. Joey Votto went 3-for-4 with a run, and Spencer Steer had a solo home run to his credit. 

In the starter role Friday the Reds will send out Andrew Abbott. Over his 12 starts so far Abbott is 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 74 Ks in 70.2 innings. Abbott is 2-3 with a 4.17 ERA in his last seven starts, giving up 19 earned in 41.0 innings total. 

Cincinnati Reds Team Facts

• The Reds have won each of their last nine road games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Reds have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games as favorites against National League opponents following a loss.
• The Reds have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five games at PNC Park.
• The Reds have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last 10 games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Reds have led after 7 innings in each of their last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.

Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts

• Joey Votto has hit a home run in each of his last three appearances with the Reds as road favorites against NL opponents.
• Spencer Steer has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Reds’ last seven road games against NL opponents.
• TJ Friedl has recorded two or more total bases in seven of his last eight appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Elly De La Cruz has scored at least one run in each of the Reds’ last seven night games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Spencer Steer has recorded at least one hit in each of the Reds’ last eight games as road favorites.

Pittsburgh Pirates 

Over on the Pirates’ side, they eked out a win 7-6 over the Braves on Monday, but the next two games were losses 8-6 and 6-5. On Thursday in the finale Pittsburgh came back from an early 4-0 deficit to cobble together a 7-5 victory. Ke’Bryan Hayes had two hits, a run and three RBI, while Liover Peguero added two RBI and a pair of hits. 

As starting pitcher Friday the Pirates will send out Johan Oviedo. This year in his 23 starts Oviedo is 6-11 with a 4.18 ERA and 117 Ks in 131.1 innings. Oviedo is 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in his last seven starts, giving up 21 earned in 42.2 innings. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Facts

• The Pirates have won each of their last seven home games against the Reds.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games as home underdogs against the Reds.
• The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last six home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Pirates have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Pirates have led after 7 innings in each of their last seven games against the Reds at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Ke’Bryan Hayes has hit a home run in each of the Pirates’ last two night games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four home appearances.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded three or more total bases in five of his last six home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Bryan Reynolds has scored at least one run in eight of the Pirates’ last nine games as home underdogs.
• Johan Oviedo has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances with his team as a home underdog against the Reds.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pittsburgh Pirates ranks 26th in the league for hits this season (901).
• The Pittsburgh Pirates ranks T5th in the league for triples this season (21).
• The Cincinnati Reds ranks 1st in the league for steals this season (130).
• The Cincinnati Reds ranks 3rd in the league for triples this season (23).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stay with the Pirates in this one. Pittsburgh should have some shots against Abbott while he’s in there. Back on July 25 versus Milwaukee, Abbott put together a good game (6.0 clean innings) in a win over the Brewers. In the two starts since then however, Abbott is 0-1 with 10 earned runs on 14 hits and eight walks in 9.0 innings total. If he’s not on point this one could get out of hand quickly. In the Thursday game the Pirates gave up quite a few hits (12) but limited the damage after the fourth inning. The pen finished with 5.0 innings, one earned, four hits, no walks and five strikeouts in a pretty solid effort from Thomas Hatch and Colin Holderman. I like Pittsburgh to keep it rolling in this opener.