Rematch of Last Week’s Series
The Cincinnati Reds will hit the road to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a four-game series Thursday. Cinci took two of three outings in their recent series and is playing better as of late, though Pittsburgh is still viewed as the better team.
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET in PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Reds vs Pirates. We’ve plenty of MLB predictions.
Is the Reds’ Turnaround Real?
The Cincinnati Reds Reds started the season on a historically poor trajectory, taking three wins from their first 25 games— since then, however, they have won four of six, including two of three against this same Pirates team.
They also just won their recent series with the Milwaukee Brewers, a legitimate playoff contender, and have completely thrown off MLB lines as a result.
Cinci is flat-out terrible in the box and has produced one of the worst batting averages in the league, but they can get home runs from multiple players in their lineup.
Big-name talent Joey Votto has been exceptionally poor this season, though he is out on the COVID-19 injured list. Colin Moran smacked a grand slam in the last meeting between the Reds and Pirates, helping his team to a 7-3 win over their rival.
Connor Overton (0-0, 2.53 ERA) will be on the bump for Cinci coming off of a 5.1-inning, two-earned-run start in his last appearance on the mound against Pittsburgh.
The Pirates Improvement
The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the worst teams in baseball last year, and as a result, were one of the most lowly-favored MLB picks to take the National League Central. They are just 13-17 thus far but have defied the odds to a degree, holding down the third spot in the division and being much more competitive than they were in 2021, as evidenced by their recent series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Pirates are not necessarily explosive, but they are consistent at getting on base, even if this ability is not always reflected in the final score. Ke’Bryan Hayes has been the most impressive one of the bunch, hitting .320 at the plate but without any home runs.
If the Pirates continue to win games and can get above .500 before the deadline, they might look into trading for an out-of-favor slugger that could add another element to their offense.
JT Brubaker (0-2, 5.68 ERA) will get the starting nod as he too allowed two earned runs in his last appearance against his division rival, just in five innings instead of Overton’s 5.1.
Reds vs Pirates Head-to-Head
The Reds took two games in their three-game series with the Pirates last week, which was the only time the two NL Central rivals met.
Cinci also won 2021’s season series 13-6, putting precedent on their side.
Reds vs Pirates Game Information
- Game: Reds (7-24) vs Pirates (13-17)
- Location: PNC Park
- Day/Time: Thursday, May 12th. 6:35 p.m. ET
- Reds vs Pirates Live Stream: MLB.tv
Reds vs Pirates Betting Lines
Reds vs Pirates Prediction
As bad as the Reds have been this season, they have looked decent enough over the past week and change. The Pirates too, look improved and were especially impressive during their games against the Dodgers.
Both teams have produced the two worst combined ERAs in baseball, so these games are destined to go over. As far as the team that holds the advantage, however, the answer has to be the Pirates. They can get on base more, regardless of whether or not they have a legitimate takeover player.
Take the Pirates to come away with a win on Thursday.
Those looking to bet online can find MLB odds and more on the BETUS sportsbook.
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