Pirates vs Reds Picks and Prediction – 9/20/2024

The Great American Ball Park will play host to a Friday night MLB clash between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Pirates (72-81) are seven games below .500 on the road and are trying to claw their way out of the NL Central Division cellar. Last night, 2B Nick Gonzales went 2-for-4 and scored a run to lead Pittsburgh to a 3-2 road victory against St. Louis. 

Twenty-eight year old righty Mitch Keller (11-10 3.87 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates in this matchup. Pittsburgh has dropped Keller’s previous four starts and he has given up 13 runs (11 ER) over his last 21 plus innings. 

The Cincinnati Reds have split their previous ten games and have been eliminated from postseason contention. On Thursday, Cincinnati SP Julian Aguilar (2-1) was rocked for seven runs in four innings during an ugly 15-3 home loss versus Atlanta. OF Blake Dunn homered and scored all three runs for the Reds (74-80), who fell to 37-41 at home. 

The Reds will counter with thirty-four year old southpaw Nick Martinez (3.37 ERA) in the series opener. Cincinnati has won Martinez’s last three starts and he has allowed five runs (2 ER) over his last 18 plus frames. 

Cincinnati SP Andrew Abbott (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and could return for one more start. Through 153 games, Pittsburgh ranks 27th in OPS and 22nd in runs scored. For the season, Cincinnati ranks 19th in OPS and 15th in runs scored. Take the Reds to win at home. Final Score Prediction, Cincinnati Reds win 7-2.