Pirates vs. Reds 9/16 Prediction
National League Central rivals clash in Cincinnati tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET when the Reds host the last-place Pirates. With Luis Castillo set to oppose JT Brubaker in the pitching matchup, are the Reds a safe run line play for bettors?
Game Snapshot
957 Pittsburgh Pirates (+185) at 958 Cincinnati Reds (-225); o/u 8.5
6:40 p.m. ET, Wednesday, September 16, 2020
JT Brubaker vs. Luis Castillo
Pittsburgh Pirates DFS Spin
Pirates GM Ben Cherington noted Tuesday that Keone Kela (forearm) is unlikely to return this season. Kela resumed throwing last week, but he’s simply running out of time to make it back before the regular season ends on September 27. “At this point the calendar is starting to work against us a little bit,” Cherington told reporters. “If the calendar lasted another month, then I’d feel differently about it.”
Cincinnati Reds DFS Spin
Amir Garrett earned his first save of the season on Tuesday night against the Pirates. Raisel Iglesias and Archie Bradley were both unavailable for this one due to heavy recent workloads, so Garrett got the ball in the top of the ninth inning to protect a 4-1 lead. He struggled to find the strike zone, throwing just 13 of his 27 pitches for strikes while issuing two walks, but the Pirates’ pitiful offense couldn’t make him pay. Garrett didn’t allow a hit (or a run) and now has a 2.81 ERA in 16 total innings this year.
Reds vs. Pirates Betting Prediction
Over 52 1/3 innings this season, Castillo owns a 3.44 ERA with 66 strikeouts to just 20 walks. He’s facing a Pirates lineup that struggles mightily as it is, let alone when facing a right-hander on the road. There’s not a big sample size on Brubaker, but from what we do know, he struggles with control at times and as inconsistent as Cincinnati’s offense has been this season, the Reds have a patient lineup that hits well at home. Pittsburgh is just 1-4 in its last five meetings with the Reds in Cincinnati and is also 16-44 in its last 60 games as a road underdog. I’m laying the 1.5 in Cincinnati tonight.
WEDNESDAY MLB PREDICTIONS: CINCINNATI REDS -1.5 (-115)