CINCINNATI (90 - 72) at PITTSBURGH (94 - 68) - 8:05 PM
JOHNNY CUETO (R) vs. FRANCISCO LIRIANO (L)
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 10-25 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 94-68 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 50-31 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 17-7 (+10.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday this season.
PITTSBURGH is 101-79 (+27.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 45-31 (+13.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 94-68 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PITTSBURGH is 63-40 (+18.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 76-55 (+20.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
PITTSBURGH is 53-40 (+11.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
PITTSBURGH is 36-32 (+8.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CINCINNATI is 656-725 (+56.7 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 314-336 (+31.9 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 593-669 (+40.7 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 428-471 (+36.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 86-52 (+22.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 11-8 (+5.5 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.9 Units)
JOHNNY CUETO vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
CUETO is 13-4 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 1.015.
His team's record is 14-7 (+3.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 11-8. (+2.1 units)
FRANCISCO LIRIANO vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
LIRIANO is 0-3 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 3.70 and a WHIP of 1.110.
His team's record is 0-4 (-4.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.3 units)
CINCINNATI vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Cincinnati's last 21 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Cueto: Cincinnati 10-25 SU in October
Liriano: Pittsburgh 30-11 SU after 3 straight games without giving up a stolen base
NL Wild Card game
Cueto was on DL three times this year; he is 1-0, 1.50 in two starts coming off DL last time, 1-0, 1.46 in two starts vs Pittsburgh this season.
Liriano is 1-1, 3.24 in his last four starts, 0-3, 3.70 vs Cincinnati this year.
Reds lost their last five games, scoring a total of 8 runs. Pirates are 5-1 in their last six games; they're 11-8 vs Cincinnati this year, 5-4 at home.
Reds are 41-41 on road this season. 27-25 vs lefty starters; Pittsburgh is 76-55 vs righties; they went 51-30 at PNC Park, which is hosting first-ever playoff game-- Pirates were last in playoffs in 1992.
Under is 8-3 in Cueto starts this season, 6-3-1 in Liriano's last 10 home starts, 5-1 in last six Cincinnati games, 3-1 in last four Pirate games.
Armadillosports.com
StatFox Super Situations
MLB CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH
Play On - Road underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 (CINCINNATI) good defensive catchers - allowing 0.5 or less SB's/game on the season, after scoring 3 runs or less 5 straight games 46-30 since 1997. ( 60.5% 29.4 units ) 3-4 this year. ( 42.9% 0.0 units )
StatFox Situational Power Trends
MLB CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH is 41-27 (+18.8 Units) against the money line after 2 or more consecutive road games this season. The average score was: PITTSBURGH (4.5) , OPPONENT (3.9)
Reds at Pirates: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates (-130, 6.5)
The Pittsburgh Pirates participate in their first postseason game in 21 years when they host the Cincinnati Reds in Tuesday’s National League wild-card game. Pittsburgh secured home-field advantage by sweeping a three-game series in Cincinnati and the winner of this one-game round meets the St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round. The Reds are in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons but staggered down the stretch with five consecutive losses to match a season-worst skid.
Cincinnati planned to start Mat Latos but scratched him due to elbow soreness and will instead go with Johnny Cueto, who has a stellar 8-2 mark with a 1.91 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 13 career starts at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. The Pirates opted for left-hander Francisco Liriano, who struggled against the Reds this season with a 0-3 record and 3.70 ERA in four starts. Pittsburgh standout Andrew McCutchen (.317 average, 21 homers, 84 RBIs and 27 steals) had an MVP-caliber campaign while Cincinnati star Joey Votto (.306 average, 24 homers, 73 RBIs) set a franchise record by reaching base 316 times.
LINE: The Bucs opened as -120 home faves and have moved to -130. The total has remained at 6.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-60s. Wind will blow out to left field at 5 mph.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.82 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (16-8, 3.02)
Cueto has excelled in two starts since returning from an injury and has allowed one earned run and eight hits in 12 innings. He blanked the Pirates on one hit over eight innings on May 31 and then went on the disabled list for the second of three times this season. Cueto is 13-4 with a 2.37 ERA in 21 career starts against Pittsburgh.
Liriano has been fantastic at home, sporting an 8-1 mark and 1.47 ERA in 11 outings. Though he set a career best for victories, he struggled in September with a 1-2 record and 5.14 ERA in five starts. Liriano had a sharp outing against Cincinnati on Sept. 20 when he gave up two runs and three hits in eight innings while receiving a no-decision.
TRENDS:
* Reds are 0-5 in their last five overall.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Cueto's last six road starts vs. Pirates.
* Pirates are 0-4 in Liriano's last four starts vs. Reds.
* Over is 4-1 in Reds last five playoff games.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips (shin) expects to play after being hurt while fouling a ball off his leg on Saturday.
2. McCutchen is batting .231 with three homers in 39 career at-bats against Cueto, while Votto is 2-for-10 against Liriano.
3. Pittsburgh won the season series, 11-8 – including a 5-4 mark at home.
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The National League playoffs begin on Tuesday night with a pair of NL Central rivals looking to take on division champ St. Louis in the NLDS. The Pirates swept the Reds at the Great American Ballpark this past weekend to grab home-field advantage in Tuesday's play-in game, winning all three games as an underdog. Now, Pittsburgh is listed in the favorite role.
The Pirates won 11 of 19 meetings with the Reds this season, including a 5-4 mark at PNC Park. Following a three-game home sweep in early April, the Reds grabbed four of the next six meetings, including two of three in late September. One of those losses almost cost the Pirates a home game in the Wild Card contest, as the Reds rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the ninth inning to win, 6-5 in 10 innings on September 20.
Francisco Liriano started that Friday night meltdown for the Pirates, as the southpaw allowed three hits and two earned runs in eight innings of work. Unfortunately, closer Mark Melancon couldn't shut the door by giving up three hits and three runs in the ninth inning, while recording just two outs. Joey Votto broke a 5-5 tie in the 10th inning with a solo home run, as Liriano received a no-decision in the one-run defeat.
The Pirates will send out Liriano on Tuesday night, as Pittsburgh lost all four of his starts against Cincinnati this season. The Bucs won nine of Liriano's 11 starts at PNC Park, with the only two defeats coming to the Reds in late September and in early June.
The Reds look to put last season's NLDS meltdown against the Giants behind them on Tuesday as Johnny Cueto takes the mound. Cueto threw nine pitches in the NLDS opener last October before leaving the start due to back spasms. The right-hander has made just two starts since suffering a strained right lat muscle in June, as the Reds beat the Astros and Mets in his last two outings. In Cueto's lone start at PNC Park earlier this season, the righty tossed eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a 6-0 shutout of the Pirates.
Cincinnati finished slightly above .500 on the road at 41-40, while winning seven of their last 10 games in the role of an away underdog. Pittsburgh put together a solid 50-31 record at PNC Park, but won just eight of their final 18 games as a home favorite.
First pitch is at 8:05 PM from Pittsburgh and can be seen on TBS.
Other Postseason Notes:
As the Cardinals wait for the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati winner, Los Angeles will travel to Atlanta for the other NLDS. The Dodgers opened up as a $1.45 road favorite as Clayton Kershaw takes the mound, while Kris Medlen counters for the Braves. Atlanta won five of seven meetings against Los Angeles this season, including a three-game sweep at Turner Field. The series begins in Atlanta on Thursday night at 8:35 PM with coverage on TBS.
MLB Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
The playoffs officially start on Tuesday with the NL wild-card game featuring Pittsburgh hosting Cincinnati at PNC park. Pirates look to Francisco Liriano to get them to the next stage. The left-hander 16-8 on the year with a 3.02 ERA has been rock solid at home posting an 8-1 mark with a 1.47 ERA over ten starts (8-2 TSR). Outstanding numbers at home but sports bettors who follow Pittsburgh closely will also be aware of Pirates' struggles vs Cincinnati with the hurler. The southpaw's only home loss and only two team start losses at PNC Park have been vs Reds and Pirates are an ugly 0-4 this season vs Reds with Liriano touching toe to rubber. On the other mound, Johnny Cueto takes the ball in this winner-take-all game. The right-handed making his third start since coming off the DL has a 5-2 record and 2.82 ERA. Cueto faces Pirates for the third time at PNC Park this season. In his previous two starts in Pittsburgh, he's allowed just one run, three hits, including eight scoreless frames in a May 31 win. Cueto brings a 13-4 life-time mark vs Pirates over 21 starts (14-7 TSR) including a smart 8-2 record in Pittsburgh over 13 starts (9-4 TSR).