NL Central rivals continue their four-game series on Friday as the Cincinnati Reds (62-65, 4th in NL Central) face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (59-67, 5th in NL Central). The opening game on Thursday saw the Pirates dominate with a 7-0 shutout victory. For this matchup, the Reds will send Andrew Abbott (3.72 ERA) to the mound, while the Pirates will counter with Bailey Falter (4.02 ERA). The game is scheduled for 6:40 EST at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
For reliable MLB picks, our MLB Predictions are consistently impressive.
Reds Remain Optimistic Despite Setback
The Cincinnati Reds currently sit in fourth place in the NL Central but refuse to abandon their pursuit of a Wild Card spot. Recently, the team signed first baseman Dominic Smith to enhance their lineup as they push for playoff contention. However, the Reds have significant ground to cover, trailing six games behind the final Wild Card position. Their initial game in this series did not go as planned, resulting in a shutout loss, where they failed to score despite Elly De La Cruz managing a hit.
De La Cruz stands out as one of the fastest players in the league, leading with 60 stolen bases, far ahead of Shohei Ohtani, who has 39. As the starting shortstop, he also leads the Reds with 22 home runs and boasts a .262 batting average. He bats second in the order, contributing 56 RBIs thus far. Spencer Steer, batting third as the left fielder, leads the team with 79 RBIs, alongside 19 home runs and a .234 batting average. Jeimer Candelario, with 20 home runs, is on the 10-day injured list, while Jonathan India, who typically plays second base but served as the designated hitter against the Pirates, has 12 home runs and 48 RBIs this season.
Andrew Abbott, a 25-year-old left-hander, will make his 26th appearance this season. Although he holds a 10-10 record, the Reds have struggled in his last five starts, winning only once. Abbott has a 3.72 ERA, complemented by 114 strikeouts and 52 walks, having allowed 25 home runs. In his previous outing, he pitched five innings, surrendering four earned runs in a loss to the Royals.
Pirates’ Young Star Shines Bright
The Pirates showcased their rising star, Paul Skenes, in the first game of this series, where he delivered an impressive performance. Skenes struck out nine batters over six innings, allowing only two hits, improving his record to 8-2 this season. However, the Pirates face a challenge as Skenes cannot pitch every game, and they need to find additional ways to secure victories, currently sitting eight games out of the Wild Card race. In Thursday’s win, Bryan De La Cruz made a significant impact with three RBIs.
Bryan De La Cruz, who recently joined the team from the Marlins, has 18 home runs this season but is still searching for his first with the Pirates after 17 games. He contributed a three-RBI double in the series opener while batting cleanup as the right fielder. Bryan Reynolds, also instrumental in the lineup, leads the Pirates with 70 RBIs and 19 home runs, maintaining a .282 batting average. Oneil Cruz, the shortstop, has 18 home runs and 63 RBIs but has not hit a homer in his last 11 games after recently sliding to fifth in the batting order.
Bailey Falter will take the mound for the Pirates for his 22nd start of the season. The 27-year-old lefty holds a 6-7 record, with the team going 2-3 in his last five outings. He has a 4.02 ERA, recording 75 strikeouts against 31 walks while allowing 13 home runs. In his last start, he pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs in a victory over the Mariners.
Best Bets for Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Reds will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing loss in the series opener. With Paul Skenes not pitching in the upcoming game, the Reds have a chance to even the series. Andrew Abbott offers a lower ERA and more strikeouts than Bailey Falter, who has struggled against the Reds this season, allowing six earned runs over 11 innings in prior matchups. The Reds have made recent roster adjustments to solidify their postseason aspirations. To achieve their goal, they must secure victories against lower-ranked teams. Expect the Reds to tie the series on Friday as they head into the weekend.
