Reds vs Pirates predictions
Eyes are on the Cincinnati Reds as they roll into PNC Park, looking to keep their edge in the NL Central and secure the series win. I’m expecting a big night from Elly De La Cruz—he’s been a go-to guy in the lineup, so don’t be surprised if he finds himself filling up the stat sheet with a hit, a run, and possibly even showing off those wheels with a stolen base. Santiago Espinal and Matt McLain both have the kind of consistency you want on the road; I see each of them pushing for at least a hit and chipping in on run production, especially with runners in scoring position. And with Brady Singer taking the mound, the Reds could be in good shape early—if he finds his rhythm, look for him to keep the Pirates’ bats quiet through a solid five innings.
Looking at the Pirates, they’ll need a spark to hang with the Reds’ balanced attack. Joey Bart has been swinging well lately, and I’d expect him to find a gap and grab a base hit or two, possibly driving in a run if the opportunity presents itself. Oneil Cruz is always a power threat; he could easily leave the yard or at least put pressure on the defense with his bat speed. If Bryan Reynolds gets on base and jumps into the action, the Pirates can manufacture runs out of thin air, but the lineup has struggled at times to bring those efforts full circle. Andrew Heaney has the potential to keep things close on the mound—it’ll be interesting to see if he can limit Cincinnati’s big innings and keep the home crowd in it.
When it comes down to it, with the way the Cincinnati Reds have been pushing across runs and getting timely hitting, I like their chances to close out this series on the road. The edge in offense and a slight advantage in starting pitching give them just enough of a cushion, even if the Pirates fight to keep it interesting. If the Reds can keep up the steady drumbeat at the plate—plus a strong showing from Singer—look for Cincinnati to sneak out of Pittsburgh with another W.
