The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to host their division foe Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. The action begins at 1:35 p.m. ET and fans can watch it on ATPT and FSOH.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Cincinnati (-155) is favored against Pittsburgh (+135) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 7.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the most recent runline odds standing at +140 for the Reds +1.5 runs and -150 for the Pirates -1.5.
The Pirates are 6-2 SU and 5-2 ATS. The team has gained 5.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.0 units against the spread (ATS). The Reds have gone 2-5 SU this year and are 2-4 ATS. In total, the teams lost 3.9 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the season and 2.9 units ATS.
Pittsburgh games have an over/under record of 5-2 so far in 2018. The Reds have an over/under record of 3-3.
The Reds have lost 1.9 units and are 1-3 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in two of those games, as opposed to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 4.0 units and are 4-2 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to two which went under the total.
Tyler Mahle (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Mahle started four games last year and finished the season 1-2 overall with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He made two starts against the Pirates in 2017 and compiled a 0-1 record against them with a 2.45 ERA and eight strikeouts.
The Pirates will put the ball in the hands of righty Jameson Taillon (1-0, 3.38 ERA), who recorded 125 strikeouts over 133 innings last year (25 starts), while finishing the season 8-7 overall with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He recorded five starts against the Reds a year ago and put up a 0-2 record with a 6.20 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The teams starters have a 3.80 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.67 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 7.6 K/9. In three games against NL Central opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 2.93 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.40.
The Pittsburgh hitters are putting up 6.6 runs per outing, including 6.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .273/.375/.424 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Outfielder Gregory Polanco and second baseman Josh Harrison have led the Pirates batters so far. Polanco is slashing .280/.441/.680 with seven hits, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored, and Harrison is batting .314 with 11 hits, five RBIs and 10 runs.
In the other dugout, Cincinnati’s pitchers have allowed 6.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.26 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 5.73 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 7.71, along with a K-per-9 of 8.10.
Reds hitters have slashed .255/.337/.379 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the teams last five contests (2-3 SU).
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and left fielder Jesse Winker have led Cincinnati’s offense. Suarez is slashing .308/.419/.654 with eight hits, seven RBIs and five runs scored, while Winker is slashing .333/.538/.333 with six hits, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Suarez didn’t perform especially well against right pitching on the road last year. Across 250 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .233/.340/.300 (his total season line was .260/.367/.461).
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Reds went 13-6 SU against the Pirates last season.
- The Reds bullpen posted an ERA of 3.53 against the Pirates last year.
