Pirates vs. Reds Saturday Prediction
The new-look Reds picked up a win on Opening Day and will now look to make it two-in-a-row when they host division rivals the Pirates at 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. That said, is Pittsburgh the better bet to even this series?
Game Snapshot & Odds
903 Pittsburgh Pirates at 904 Cincinnati Reds
Saturday, March 30, 2019
2:10 p.m. ET, Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: AT&T Sportsnet-Pittsburgh (Pirates); FS Ohio (Reds)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Reds as a -138 favorite over the Pirates, who are +127 money line underdogs to pull off the upset. As of this writing, 56% of betting tickets are on the Reds to win outright.
This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Spin
Trevor Williams threw three scoreless innings Sunday against the Orioles in what will likely be his last Grapefruit League action. Williams scattered three hits without issuing a walk, and he struck out two. On the heels of a breakout campaign in 2018, the right-hander posted a nice 2.45 ERA this spring, albeit in just 11 innings of work. The 26-year-old has plenty of doubters and is a poor bet to replicate that 3.11 ERA from a year ago, making him a tough player to count on for fantasy purposes.
Cincinnati Reds Fantasy Spin
Sonny Gray yielded just one earned run over five innings in a Cactus League start against the Rockies on Sunday. Gray struck out seven batters and didn’t issue a walk. He scattered three hits. The 29-year-old right-hander finishes the spring with a 0.90 ERA in 10 frames and could be poised for a solid year near the top of the Reds’ rotation. There’s some mixed-league appeal here if he can stay healthy.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are 0-4 in their last four games following an off day.
Cincinnati
The Reds are winless in their last five games coming off a win.
Prediction:
The Pirates lost to the Reds on Opening Day but have otherwise been profitable in this series. They’ve won eight of their previous 10 games versus the Reds and five of seven at the Great American Ball Park. Pittsburgh has also won four of Williams’ last five starts versus Cincinnati. I know Gray had an excellent spring, but we’ll see how he does pitching in the unfriendly pitching confines of the GABP.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates +127