Pirates vs Reds Prediction - MLB Picks 3/30/23

Cincinnati Reds (0-0) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (0-0)

Game Info: Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 4:10 pm (Great American Ball Park)

Hunter Greene (0-0) (0.00) vs Mitch Keller (0-0) (0.00)

Betting Odds: Cincinnati Reds -156 / Pittsburgh Pirates +110 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates will open the season in NL Central play with a three-game set at Great American Ball Park. Pittsburgh led the head-to-head series last season, 12-7, after winning the final seven matchups. 

Pirates Betting Preview

Pittsburgh went 9-18 in the Grapefruit League, after finishing last in the NL Central last season. The Pirates started to figure things out during the final two months of the season, with the play of homegrown products Adam Reynolds, O’Neill Cruz, and Ke’Bryan Hayes providing optimism for the season. The veteran additions of Carlos Santana, Connor Joe, and Austin Hedges should mix well with the youth in the clubhouse, along with the anticipated return of longtime Pirate Andrew McCutchen.

Mitch Keller will make the Opening Day start for Pittsburgh. The fifth-year pitcher posted a 5-12 record, with a 3.91 ERA, and 138 strikeouts, while going 4-5 on the road in 2022. Keller gave up eleven runs in just 14 innings pitched over three starts against the Reds last season.

Reds Betting Preview

Cincinnati went 15-14 in the Cactus League, after finishing fourth in the NL Central last season. The Reds will likely lean on the production of veterans Joey Votto and Jonathan India again this season, with the play of new addition of Wil Myers also heavily factoring into how far this team goes this season.

Hunter Greene gets the Opening Day start for Cincinnati. The second-year pitcher led the Reds in strikeouts (164), while going 5-13 with a 1.64 ERA. Greene had his way with the Pirates last season, tossing 19 strikeouts in two starts, while allowing just one run. 

Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati Trends

Pittsburgh went 82-80 against the spread in 2022, with a 73-78-11 over/under record. Cincinnati went 75-87 ATS, with a 76-81-5 O/U record.

Corey's Free Pick

It may look unappealing in comparison to the Opening Day slate, but these two teams turned a corner late last year, and could show improvements this season. Cincinnati has something special brewing with Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft at the top of the rotation, and I like leaning on those fresh arms early in this series with Pittsburgh. Greene was noticeably better on the mound than Keller, and if he gets the run support, he should be able to lead Cinci to a game one victory. Roll with the Reds on Opening Day.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.

Mitch's Take...

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