The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. On Friday in the opener matchup, the Reds won by seven runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Cincinnati Reds 

The Reds took on the Marlins this week, losing two of three games. In Wednesday’s 5-4 loss, Cincinnati got two hits, a homer and three RBI from Christian Encarnacion-Strand but it wasn’t enough. On Friday Cincinnati scored three times in three different innings on the way to a 9-2 blowout win. Both Luke Maile (home run) and Elly De La Cruz (two hits; run) had three RBI apiece. 

In the starter job Saturday the Reds are going with Brandon Williamson. Over 15 games this year Williamson is 4-2 with a 4.54 ERA and 64 Ks in 75.1 innings. Williamson is 3-1 over his last seven outings with a 3.19 ERA and 13 earned in 36.2 innings. 

Cincinnati Reds Team Facts

• The Reds have won each of their last 10 road games against teams that held a losing record.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Reds’ last seven games.
• The Reds have led after 3 innings in each of their last five road games against opponents that held a losing record.
• The Reds have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last 10 games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last four road games.

Pittsburgh Pirates 

Over on the Pittsburgh side, they managed a series split in four games versus the Braves this week. On Thursday in a 7-5 win, the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes provided three RBI, a run and two hits. In the opener matchup Friday, Pittsburgh fell behind 6-0 after four innings and couldn’t keep pace. Hayes had a solo homer, and Andrew McCutchen put up the other RBI. 

As starting pitcher Saturday the Pirates will go with Andre Jackson. In nine games (zero starts) without a decision so far Jackson has a 5.16 ERA and 23 Ks in 22.2 innings. Jackson is coming off 2.0 clean frames versus the Braves on August 8. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Facts

• The Pirates have won 10 of their last 11 games as home underdogs against the Reds following a home loss.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in 13 of their last 14 games as home underdogs against the Reds following a loss.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last three games between the Reds and Pirates.
• The Pirates have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last seven home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five home games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pittsburgh Pirates ranks 27th in the league for hits this season (907).
• 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 (24).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to try the Reds here. Williamson did have a shaky outing versus the Cubs recently (August 2) with 4.1 innings, five earned, four hits and two walks. That said, two of Williamson’s last three starts have been quite effective. He went 2-0 in that pair with three earned over a span of 12.1 frames. In the Friday game Cincinnati got multiple hits from three different players and at least one RBI from four. It was a nice offensive effort all around, aided by a 3.1-inning bullpen performance that kept the Pirates at bay. I like Cincinnati to keep it up in game two.