The Cincinnati Reds returned to winning ways Wednesday with an impressive 5-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds will look to grab their sixth victory in the last eight games when they take on the Pirates again in their series finale later tonight.
Read on below for a breakdown of this much-anticipated National League Central clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our MLB previews of Yankees vs. Astros and Cards vs. Marlins.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Wednesday, June 25, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Reds (+145) at Pittsburgh Pirates (-160); total: 7.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds continued their mastery of Gerrit Cole with a 5-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. The Reds are now 3-0 this season when facing Cole, scoring at least three runs in each of those games. That’s quite a feat for Cincinnati considering the Pirates are 11-1 when Cole starts against any other team.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Mike Leake was superb for the Reds, limiting Pittsburgh to two runs and eight hits in seven innings of action. The pressure now is on Anthony DeSclafani (5-5, 3.48 ERA) to produce another sterling pitching performance for Cincinnati tonight. He took the loss in his last start against the Marlins on Saturday, allowing three runs across five innings with three strikeouts.
This was DeSclafani’s first defeat since May 17 and it also snapped a five-game streak of starts extending longer than six innings for the 25-year-old. He will look to have a much better showing this time around against the Pirates. He is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts this season against Pittsburgh. He surrendered three runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings pitched in the Reds’ 7-2 loss to the Pirates on May 7.
Expected to lead the Reds’ offense tonight are Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd. Bruce is 7-of-21 (.333) with eight RBIs in his last five games while Byrd is hitting 6-of-19 (.316) with four RBIs in his last five outings. Both players have belted a pair of homers during this stretch. Bruce will have his work cut out for him, though, as he’s just 3-of-31 lifetime against Pirates starter AJ Burnett.
The Reds are 4-6 in their last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates had their seven-game home winning streak snapped on Wednesday with a tough 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Gerrit Cole gave up five runs on eight hits in just 4.2 innings of work in that defeat. It was a shocking performance from Cole who had allowed just three earned runs over four starts in 27 innings in June.
The Pirates will not be fazed by that defeat one bit, though, as they have the magnificent A.J. Burnett (6-3, 2.05 ERA) on the mound tonight. The Pirates have won seven of their last nine games with Burnett as their starter. He has a solid 1.27 ERA in six home starts this season. Pittsburgh’s starting pitching has been incredible this campaign, posting an ERA of 3.11, third-best in the entire majors.
Burnett can’t do it all alone, though, and he needs the Pirates to step up on the offensive end as well. Leading the way for the Pirates tonight are Pedro Alvarez and Gregory Polanco. Alvarez is 3-for-6 (.500) lifetime against Anthony DeSclafani with a homer and two RBIs while Polanco has three hits in five at-bats against the right-hander. They were a combined 2-for-8 in their defeat last night to Cincinnati.
The Pirates are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Pittsburgh (-160) wins, 5-1.
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