Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction MLB Picks 8/22/24

Pittsburgh Pirates (59-67) vs Cincinnati Reds (62-65)

Game Info: Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 6:40 pm (PNC Park)

Paul Skenes (7-2) (2.30) vs Nick Lodolo (9-5) (4.55)

Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Pirates -155 / Cincinnati Reds +130 --- Over/Under: 7.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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In this article we will formulate a Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction for this MLB game on Thursday, August 22nd at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To formulate this prediction for game one in the series, we will examine:

  • The Reds recent form and recent player performance 
  • The Pirates recent form and recent play performance
  • Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Cincinnati
  • Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Pittsburgh 
  • Recent betting trends in games played between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh
  • A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh 

Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview

The Cincinnati Reds are 62-65 this year and they have lost four of their last six games. Cincinnati is coming off of a series win against Toronto, where they won two out of three games. Prior to that series, the Reds lost all three against the Royals, swept the Cardinals, and lost two out of three against the Brewers. Cincinnati is 6-4 in their last 10 games and they are tied for third in the NL Central. 

The Cincinnati pitching staff has a 4.03 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a .238 opponent batting average. The Reds offense has scored 566 runs with a .231 batting average and a .303 on base percentage. Elly De La Cruz is batting .262 with 22 home runs and 56 RBI’s for the Reds this season. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 59-67 this season and they have lost three of their last four games. Pittsburgh is coming off of a series loss against Texas, where they lost two out of three games. Prior to that series, the Pirates won two out of three against the Mariners, lost all three against the Padres, and lost all three against the Dodgers. Pittsburgh is 3-13 in their last 16 games and they are last in the NL Central. 

The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.92 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a .247 opponent batting average. The Pirates offense has scored 518 runs with a .234 batting average and a .300 on base percentage. Bryan Reynolds is batting .280 with 19 home runs and 69 RBI’s for the Pirates this season. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Cincinnati is Nick Lodolo, who is 9-5 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 110.2 innings pitched this year. Lodolo has allowed eight earned runs in two of his last four starts. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Paul Skenes, who is 7-2 with a 2.30 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 98.0 innings pitched this season. Skenes has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. 

Why the Pirates will beat the Reds

  • The Pirates have won each of their last nine games as favorites against National League opponents following a loss.
  • The Reds have lost 12 of their last 13 road games against NL Central opponents following a road win.
  • The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last six night games against NL Central opponents following a road loss.
  • The Reds have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five road games following a road win.

Total Runs Facts

  • Each of the Pirates' last five home games have gone OVER the total runs line.
  • Five of the Reds' last six games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
  • The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Pirates' last six games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
  • The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Reds' last four night games.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

  • Joey Bart has scored at least one run in six of his last seven appearances at PNC Park.
  • Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Pirates' last five night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
  • Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
  • Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
  • Rowdy Tellez has recorded at least one Double in each of his last three appearances with his team as a home favorite against the Reds.
  • Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
  • Bryan Reynolds has hit at least one home run in four of the Pirates' last seven home games against opponents that held a losing record.

Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts

  • Tyler Stephenson has recorded at least one total base in each of the Reds' last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.
  • TJ Friedl has hit a home run in each of the Reds' last two games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
  • Nick Lodolo has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
  • Nick Lodolo has recorded a win in three of his last four road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
  • Spencer Steer has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
  • Tyler Stephenson has recorded at least one hit in each of the Reds' last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.
  • Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one Single in eight of his last nine appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
  • Tyler Stephenson has scored at least one run in seven of the Reds' last eight night games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
  • Jonathan India has recorded at least one Double in four of the Reds' last five games against the Pirates.

Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 

Both of these teams come into this matchup double-digit games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central, but the Reds are sitting 5.5 games out of the last wild card spot. Cincinnati is 31-31 on the road this year, while Pittsburgh is 29-32 at home. The Pirates have really had some issues over the last few weeks, but they will have Paul Skenes on the mound, who has been fantastic this season. Cincinnati is turning to Nick Lodolo, who has had two horrible starts and two decent starts in his last four outings. Skenes should be able to maneuver this Cincinnati lineup, so my Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction is for the Pirates to win. 

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

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