We’ve got some NL Central action in our first MLB slate on Tuesday night. The Pirates and Reds are going into this year with renewed optimism after missing the playoffs last season. They’ll get a proper measure of each other on Tuesday night behind two pitchers looking to make their mark.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. The Pirates are a -115 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Reds win is priced at -105. The game total is set at O/U 8.5 runs.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Pirates-Reds game.
Pirates vs. Reds Preview
First things first, let’s get to know the starting pitchers for this game.
Bubba Chandler is making his season debut for the Pirates. The No. 2 prospect in Pittsburgh’s system, the 23-year-old broke into the majors last season, making four starts and three relief appearances in the black and gold. In 31.1 innings last year, Chandler recorded a 3.66 expected ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and 31 strikeouts. Not bad for your first taste of the majors.
Bubba brings a huge arsenal of pitches to the table. His four-seam fastball averaged 98.9 miles per hour last year, one of the top marks in the majors. His off-speed arsenal is predicated on power as well; Chandler’s changeup comes in at a blistering 91.7 MPH, better than some major league fastballs. He also mixes in an 89 MPH slider and a 85.4 MPH curveball.
Opposite him, Brandon Williamson will take the mound for the Reds. A second-round pick in the 2019 draft, Williamson debuted early in 2023. He took his lumps, but that is to be expected when you play half your games at Great American Ballpark. Then the injuries struck: a shoulder injury and UCL tear combined to take him out for most of the 2024 season and all of 2025. But now he’s back, and ready to continue his big-league journey.
And it seems he is ready to come back better. Williamson’s fastball was sitting around 94 MPH in spring training. His considerable off-speed arsenal (cutter, changeup, sweeper, curveball, and slider) has stayed intact. If that velocity uptick can be maintained, we could see a brand-new version of Williamson.
Both teams made measurable steps to improve their lineup in the offseason. Cincinnati brought back Eugenio Suarez, fresh off a 50-homer season, to provide some thump in the middle of the order. They’re also making top prospect Sal Stewart a fixture in the middle of the lineup. Pittsburgh brought in a series of veterans to boost their batting order. Ryan O’Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, and Brandon Lowe are all being relied on for production. Lowe is sure making his presence felt early in the season.
Bullpens have been an issue for both teams in recent years. They’ve made a few pickups here and there, but it’ll take a month or two to get a firmer grasp on whether these pens are strengths or weaknesses for their respective managers.
Now we know the teams a bit better. Who is going to bring home victory on Tuesday night?
Pirates vs. Reds Pick, Best Bet
Pittsburgh’s status as a slight road favorite is largely based on faith in Bubba Chandler. But I’m not so convinced that the gap between him and Brandon Williamson is all that wide. Cincinnati has a slight edge in the bullpen, a bigger edge with the bat, and home park advantage to boot. They are a value at -105.
I’m also a fan of the over here. Williamson still has some kinks to work out, despite the improvement in his velocity. Chandler definitely brings the juice with his stuff, but he has given up a lot of hard contact in his limited big league experience. Add in a couple of shaky bullpens, and you’ve got a high-scoring game in the Cincinnati heat.
