Upcoming Match-ups

Pirates vs Reds Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers (Sep. 20)

Quinn Allen

by Quinn Allen in MLB Baseball

Updated Sep 19, 2021 · 8:00 PM PDT

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto prepares to bat during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Cincinnati, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. The Reds won 3-1. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
  • The Pirates and Reds begin a three-game set on Monday
  • Pittsburgh took two of three from Cincy last week in the NL Central matchup
  • Read on for the odds, preview, and prediction below

Two NL Central foes in the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-93, 22-52 away) and the Cincinnati Reds (77-73, 39-35 home) meet on Monday in the series opener of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm EST, with Dillon Peters and Vladimir Gutierrez battling it out on the mound. Both teams are coming off losses to the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.

Coming into this game, the Reds have won six of the last eight against the Pirates.

Pirates vs Reds Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Pittsburgh Pirates +160 +1.5 (-120) Ov 9 (-115)
Cincinnati Reds -190 -1.5 (+100) Un 9 (-105)

Odds as of September 19th at DraftKings

Despite dropping two-straight to the Dodgers, the Reds are a -190 home favorite on Monday.

Probable Pitchers

Peters has only made five big league starts this season after spending most of the year in Triple-A. Since his call-up in mid-August, the lefty has impressed, posting a 1-2 record and 2.66 ERA. In 23.2 innings of work, Peters has struck out 20 batters and surrendered just eight walks. He’s faced some very good teams in the Cardinals, Brewers, and Reds.

Coincidentally enough, the 29-year-old’s most recent start was against Cincinnati, tossing five frames while surrendering no runs. He’s only pitched once on the road so far but did extremely well, holding the Cards to one run.

Peters vs Gutierrez

Dillon Peters
VS
Vladimir Gutierrez
1-2 Record 9-6
2.66 ERA 4.25
23.2 Innings Pitched 108
20 SO 82
8 BB 41

Gutierrez has enjoyed a respectable rookie campaign for the Reds, going 9-6 in 20 starts while compiling a 4.25 ERA. Command has been an issue for the Cuban though, walking 41 hitters in 108 innings of work.

After posting a stellar 2.80 ERA in August, Gutierrez has been less effective this month, boasting a 6.00 ERA in three outings. Last time out, the righty was lit up by the Pirates, allowing four earned in just 3.2 frames while walking three. He’s had trouble pitching deep into ballgames lately, lasting a maximum of five innings in his last four outings.

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In two outings against Pittsburgh in 2021, Gutierrez has a 4.66 ERA. He does pitch slightly worse at home as well with an ERA of 4.91. The key for him here will be to get ahead of these Pirates hitters because they’re currently playing good baseball and will do damage if he can’t limit the mistakes.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Reds Hitters Batting Average vs Peters Pirates Hitters Batting Average vs Gutierrez
Aristides Aquino .000 Anthony Alford 1.000
Tucker Barnhart .000 Ben Gamel .500
Nick Castellanos .000 Ke’Bryan Hayes .167
Delino DeShields .500 Colin Moran .000
Kyle Farmer .200 Kevin Newman .000
Jonathan India .333 Hoy Park .250
Eugenio Suarez .1000 Bryan Reynolds .600
Joey Votto .500 Jacob Stallings .1000

The Pirates have actually been on a bit of a run, going 6-4 in their last 10 games. They just won two of three against the Marlins but did lose the series finale on Sunday in extra innings.

Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker led the offense with two hits each, but Lewin Diaz’s walk-off bomb in the bottom of the 10th ended the Bucs’ hopes at a sweep. With just a couple of weeks left in the season, Pittsburgh has the chance to play spoiler against the Reds and Phillies, who are both three games back for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

The Reds are currently sliding at the worst possible time. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 and just lost back-to-back games to the mighty Dodgers. However, even though the Pirates gave them some problems last week, Cincy should be able to come out on top in this series before welcoming the Nationals to town.

Other than a two-game set with the White Sox next week, the remaining games for the Reds are winnable. With the Cardinals surging, Cincinnati cannot afford to keep losing games right now, or else a Wild Card berth is going to be out of the question.

Pirates vs Reds Prediction

Pittsburgh is playing great, while the Reds aren’t. Peters has been very consistent and already shut down Cincinnati last week.

Gutierrez on the other hand, pitches poorly at the Great American Ball Park and the Bucs gave him some problems in his last outing. Take the underdogs here to spoil Cincy’s postseason hopes some more.

Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates moneyline (+160)

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