Reds vs. Pirates Pick
Are the host Pittsburgh Pirates going to down the Cincinnati Reds as a favorite? First pitch is at 7:05PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have put the Pirates as a -130 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Reds are a +110 underdog and the over-under is set at 7.5.
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Going for the Reds will be Luis Castillo (2-7, 3.26 ERA), while the Pirates counter with Gerrit Cole (11-8, 3.99). Castllo carries a 1.14 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings. He allowed one earned run on three hits with nine strikeouts and a walk over seven innings to the same Pirates at home in his last start, a 1-0 loss. Cole was masterful in the 1-0 victory over the Reds, spinning seven shutout innings with five hits allowed and six strikeouts. He also provided the offense with a solo home run. He has a 1.23 WHIP with 154 strikeouts over 167 innings.
Cincinnati has a 57-77 record and is 24-41 on the road, while Pittsburgh enters at 63-71 and 35-31 at home. The Reds have won six of the last 10 meetings, while the total has gone under six times.
In its last series, Cincinnati won two out of three at home versus the Mets including a 7-2 victory Wednesday. Scooter Gennett led the way as he was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run for three RBIs. Stuart Turner hit a two-run homer, while Eugenio Suarez was 2-for-4 with a run. Joey Votto added a solo home run. Robert Stephenson gave up two earned runs over six innings to notch the win. Pittsburgh was swept in a three-game series at the Cubs, getting drilled 17-3 in the series finale Wednesday. Josh Bell had a solo home run, while Jordy Mercer contributed an RBI double. David Freese added an RBI single. Ivan Nova was saddled with the loss as he allowed five run (four earned) over three innings.
Cole dominated the Reds his last start and seems to be locked in right now, although for a team going nowhere. Castillo has been fantastic for the Reds and hasn’t received much support for his efforts as his 2-7 record shows. Pittsburgh would like to get the bade taste out of its mouth from the Chicago series, so expect it to show up with an ‘A’ effort here.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PIRATES -130