Reds vs Pirates Picks & Odds (Sep. 26)
- The Reds and Pirates begin a three-game set on Monday
- Pittsburgh is a -140 favorite in the series opener
- Read on for the Reds vs Pirates odds and prediction
It’s the battle of the two worst teams in the National League Central on Monday as the Cincinnati Reds (60-93, 29-46 away) visit the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-97, 29-46 home) at PNC Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.
Chase Anderson gets the start for Cincy here, while the Bucs counter with Roansy Contreras.
Reds vs Pirates Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | +118 | +1.5 (-178) | Ov 8 (-115) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | -140 | -1.5 (+150) | Un 8 (-105) |
Odds as of September 25th at Caesars Sportsbook. Claim Caesars Sportsbook bonus code.
Pittsburgh is a -140 favorite for the series opener, winning four in a row against the Reds. The total sits at just 8.0 runs with the over slightly favored at -115 odds.
Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh Probable Pitchers
Anderson signed with the Reds in August but has struggled to make an impact. In six appearances (five starts), he’s 2-3 with a 5.21 ERA, striking out 18 in 19 innings and walking 11. The 34-year-old is trending in the right direction though after a brutal debut for Cincinnati.
Probables vs. Cincinnati
Monday
Chase Anderson (88 ERA+) vs. Roansy Contreras (113 ERA+)Tuesday
Hunter Greene (92 ERA+) vs. Mitch Keller (104 ERA+)Wednesday
Luis Cessa (94 ERA+) vs. Bryse Wilson (70 ERA+)— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) September 25, 2022
He allowed just one earned run in five innings on September 21st vs. Boston, scattering three hits while striking out four. In fact, Anderson hasn’t given up more than two earned in five straight outings. Pittsburgh is a team he’s extremely familiar with, posting a 3.41 ERA across 103 career innings.
Anderson vs Contreras
| 2-3 | Record | 5-5 |
| 5.21 | ERA | 3.68 |
| 19 | Innings Pitched | 88 |
| 18 | Strikeouts | 84 |
| 11 | BB | 36 |
Contreras is easily one of Pittsburgh’s more consistent arms this year. He’s 5-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 starts and 19 appearances overall. The righty has collected 84 punchouts in just 88 innings, but his command is shaky at times, allowing 36 free passes.
Roansy Contreras's slider has been his defining pitch since coming back from Triple-A Indianapolis. He just threw a couple beautiful ones to strike out the (future) MVP. pic.twitter.com/7sivV2IUz2
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) September 21, 2022
Last time out, Contreras got a rude awakening from the Yankees. He lasted just 4.2 frames, surrendering six earned runs. The only positive is Contreras managed to strike out 10 New York hitters, but they still hit him around. On a more positive note, he’s succeeded against the Reds in 2022, compiling a 1.80 ERA in two appearances.
Cincinnati Struggling
The Reds are 3-7 in their last 10 games and just dropped three of four to the Milwaukee Brewers. However, they managed to scratch out a 2-1 victory in the finale on Sunday thanks to a marvelous start from Nick Lodolo.
The game-winning homer courtesy of Spencer Steer!
Reds ╳ @Adobe pic.twitter.com/OGo1Kqmlkj
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 25, 2022
The righty tossed six innings of one-run ball and then the bullpen held it down after his departure. There wasn’t a ton of offense on either side but Spencer Steer came through in the clutch with a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning.
Pittsburgh Even Worse Lately
If you thought Cincinnati was in poor shape, think again. The Bucs are a putrid 1-9 in their last 10 contests, losing eight in a row before breaking the cold streak on Saturday with a 6-0 win.
No. 26 for Reynolds! pic.twitter.com/lAKwzdl3rU
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 25, 2022
But, the Reds were back to their losing ways on Sunday, with the Cubbies beating them 8-3. It was the defense that killed Pittsburgh here, committing four errors that proved to be costly. Luis Ortiz actually pitched well but the pen absolutely fell apart.
CIN vs PIT – Last 10 Games
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/14/22 | Reds | Pirates | PIT, 10-4 |
| 09/13/22 | Reds | Pirates | PIT, 1-0 |
| 09/13/22 | Reds | Pirates | PIT, 6-1 |
| 09/12/22 | Reds | Pirates | PIT, 6-3 |
| 08/21/22 | Pirates | Reds | CIN, 9-5 |
| 08/20/22 | Pirates | Reds | CIN, 10-1 |
| 08/19/22 | Pirates | Reds | PIT, 5-4 |
| 07/07/22 | Reds | Pirates | CIN, 5-1 |
| 07/07/22 | Reds | Pirates | PIT, 4-2 |
| 05/15/22 | Pirates | Reds | PIT, 1-0 |
Reds vs Pirates Pick
This is a tough one. Anderson pitches well against Pittsburgh, and Contreras has enjoyed his fair share of success vs. Cincinnati. Both teams are just abysmal right now, but I think I’ll go with the Bucs considering they’ve collected four consecutive victories in this matchup.
Pick: Pirates moneyline (-140)
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Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
