Cincinnati Reds vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Cincinnati Reds Favored to Beat Pittsburgh Pirates in NL Central Series at PNC Park

In the ongoing three-game National League Central series, the Cincinnati Reds are facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Pirates claimed a 6-5 victory in the first game of the series on Friday. The Reds, currently in fourth place in the NL Central with a 62-67 record, will have rookie right-hander Julian Aguiar on the mound. The Pirates, in last place in the NL Central with a 61-67 record, will be starting right-hander Jake Woodford. Aguiar has an ERA of 4.5, while Woodford's ERA is 6.67. Cincinnati is the favorite in the betting lines, opening at -108 with the current line at Cincinnati -110.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds -110 | Pirates -103
• Spread: Reds -1.5 (+146) | Pirates +1.5 (-168)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cincinnati will win straight-up is 52%.

Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh Stats

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds recently faced a tough 6-5 road loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the lineup showing some promise by going 9-for-32 with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Tyler Stephenson hit a home run and Amed Rosario stole a base, but the team struggled with runners in scoring position going just 1-for-7 and leaving six men on base. The game required seven different pitchers from the bullpen. Rookie right-hander Julian Aguiar will be starting next, hoping to improve on his 0-0 record with a 4.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in four innings. The team is currently ranked 22nd in power rankings, with solid offensive and defensive performances, and a season record of 62-66.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 6-5 home win against the Cincinnati Reds, inching closer to the NL Wild Card race. The lineup went 8-for-32 with two walks and eight strikeouts, with no home runs hit but two stolen bases by Bryan Reynolds and Michael A. Taylor. Despite Bailey Falter struggling, the bullpen pitched four scoreless innings for the win. Righty Jake Woodford, with a 0-5 record and 6.67 ERA, will pitch the next game for the Pirates. They have a power ranking of 25, ranking #22 for offense and #15 for defense, with an overall record of 60-67. Cincinnati has won their last three matchups against Pittsburgh.

Cincinnati Reds Favored to Win Matchup Against Pittsburgh Pirates on the Road

Both starting pitchers have limited MLB experience and have yet to perform consistently. Jesus Aguiar and Jake Woodford can be considered evenly matched in terms of ability at this stage. The Cincinnati Reds have a stronger bullpen, ranking eighth in MLB with a 3.63 ERA compared to the Pittsburgh Pirates who are ranked 24th with a 4.17 ERA. In terms of offense, the Reds have been more productive in the last 14 games, averaging 3.86 runs per game compared to the Pirates' 3.5. Considering these factors, the Cincinnati Reds are the more favorable choice to win this game on the road due to their overall stronger performance as a team.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]