The road trip comes to an end on Sunday for the Reds. They’ve played six straight road games up to this point with the seventh being against the Pirates on Sunday.
Pittsburgh won two of the past three games of the series, so Cincinnati will look to even the series at 2-2.
The Reds are slight favorites at -112 on the moneyline, and the Pirates are -108 DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at over/under eight runs.
Here’s my prediction and pick for Sunday’s Reds vs. Pirates matchup.
Reds vs. Pirates prediction
The Reds are within reach of the third wild card spot, so each game is extremely significant moving forward. The National League is crowded, and there’s likely no way for Cincinnati to claim the NL Central title.
A postseason berth would have to come via a wild card. Losing two of three thus far to the Pirates is a tough blow, although one of these matchups was against Paul Skenes.
Sunday’s game is a must-win as Zack Littell is on the mound for Cincinnati. He made his Reds debut after the Rays traded him at the deadline. He allowed one earned run through seven innings against the Cubs.
The Pirates are a much weaker offense, so there’s expectation that Littell can shut them down just as easily.
Mike Burrows will start for the Pirates as they seek to win the series 3-1. His most recent game was a mess, allowing six earned runs across 4.2 innings against the Giants. However, he allowed just three total runs across his three previous starts.
It’s another case of: which version of the pitcher will show up. The Reds rank in the top half of teams in terms of runs per game, but they’ve been quiet lately.
Reds vs. Pirates pick, best bet
Littell has been great this season, and I’m expecting more of the same against the Pirates on Sunday.
The Reds should win this, ending the series 2-2 and returning home.