Reds vs Pirates Odds and Picks (Sep. 14)

• Cincinnati is still clinging on to the NL’s second wild-card spot, half a game up from the Padres and Cardinals
• The Reds have lost two straight and six of their last 10
• Read on for a preview, full odds and a best bet for this important Tuesday evening contest

The Cincinnati Reds (75-69, 37-36 away) visit the Pittsburgh Pirates (52-91, 32-40 home) on Tuesday, September 14th, to kick off a crucial three-game series for the Reds. The team is currently sitting in the NL’s second wild-card spot, but is just half a game up on the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Things aren’t so rosy for the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central and have already been eliminated from the postseason race, so are playing for nothing more than pride and a better draft position for next year.

Reds vs Pirates Odds

Odds as of September 14th at DraftKings

Probable Pitchers

Looking to break out of the team’s mini-slump of late, Cincinnati will have Wade Miley taking the mound for the team on Tuesday evening. The veteran left-hander has posted a solid 2021 campaign, going 12-5 with a 2.89 ERA, which is on track to be the second-best ERA of his career, following the 2.57 he put up three years ago in Milwaukee.

WADE MILEY THROWS A NO-HITTER

pic.twitter.com/2R8TMy3qVs

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 8, 2021

Miley has enjoyed solid numbers against the Pirates over the course of his career, too, going 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 starts against them thus far. And he has been perfect against them this season, posting a 2-0 record without surrendering a run in 13 innings.

Miley vs Peters Stats

However, Miley has yet to pick up a win in Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. Over the course of his career, he is 0-2  with a very respectable 2.61 ERA at the ballpark, having given up just nine earned runs in 31 innings pitched there, without surrendering a home run.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

In his fifth major-league campaign, Dillon Peters has waited almost two years since his last win at this level, having gone 0-2 in four starts so far this season. He has pitched efficiently enough, however, posting a 3.38 ERA in the 18.2 innings that he’s toed the rubber so far.

A pair of strikeouts in Dillon Peters' return to his hometown ballpark? There's nothing better. 👊

Welcome home, @Dillypickz! pic.twitter.com/dHyVLyUfQ5

— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 25, 2021

Peters will be making his first career start against Cincinnati here while making just his fourth start at PNC Park. While he is also still waiting for his first home win in a Pirates uniform, he has pitched decently there, giving up just six earned runs over 13.2 innings.

Advantage, Cincinnati?

Based on recent head-to-head meetings, you would have to give the edge to the Reds here. The team has won five straight in the series, as well as 13 of the past 14 meetings.

The games between the two this season have been particularly one-sided, with Cincinnati holding an 82-26 edge in runs scored, powering it to a 9-1 record, which includes taking two of the three games played so far at PNC Park.

Headed to Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/3ZvphK8ZCG

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 12, 2021

Also, after being shut out for the 11th time this season in Sunday’s game in St. Louis, the Reds are primed to get back in the swing of things here, particularly as a team that had scored 64 runs over its previous 18 games, Cincinnati will likely get some runs here.

Reds vs Pirates Prediction

With Miley on the mound, an offense that’s mostly purring and all to play for, it’s hard to see Cincinnati getting anything but a win here from its first game of the series.

Best bet: Reds -1.5 (+100)