Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 8/8/2025 Today’s MLB Picks

The Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action from PNC Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Cincinnati Reds will start Chase Burns here and Burns is 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA and 47 strikeouts this season. This will be Burns’ first career start against the Pirates. Mitch Keller will get the start for the Pirates here and is 5-10 with a 3.89 ERA and 104 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Pirates, Keller is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA and 26 strikeouts.

Cincinnati Reds Recap

The Cincinnati Reds come into this game looking to rebound from a 7-0 loss at the hands of the Pirates on Thursday to sit at 60-56 on the year. After this series, the Reds will head home for a set against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Reds Drop Back-To-Back Games

Elly De La Cruz has 123 hits with 19 home runs, 73 RBIs, 24 doubles and 30 stolen bases while TJ Friedl has 111 hits with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs with 10 stolen bases. Gavin Lux has added 86 hits with 18 doubles and 42 RBIs while Spencer Steer has 13 home runs and 50 RBIs and Matt McLain has added 11 homers, 38 RBIs and 16 stolen bases as well on the year. Jose Trevino’s also chipped in 19 doubles as well this season.

Why the Cincinnati Reds will win

• The Pirates have lost five of their last six night games against the Reds following a home win.
• The Reds have won three of their last four night games against the Pirates following a loss.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four night games against the Reds following a win.
• The Reds have covered the run line in five of their last six night games against the Pirates following a loss.

Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts

• Tyler Stephenson has hit a home run in three of his last four Friday night appearances against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
• TJ Friedl has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances.
• Jose Trevino has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Elly De La Cruz ranks T6th in the league in Steals (30) this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Recap

The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to add on to their win over the Reds from Thursday’s matchup to improve to 50-66 this season. After this series, the Pirates will head on the road for a division series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Pirates Looking To Build Momentum

Bryan Reynolds has 100 hits with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs while also posting 124 strikeouts so far this season. Oneil Cruz has posted a team-high 18 home runs and 48 RBIs with 34 stolen bases while Isiah Kiner-Falefa has 90 hits with 14 doubles and 14 stolen bases. Cruz also has a team-high 138 strikeouts as well this season. Tommy Pham has 12 doubles and Andrew McCutchen has 90 hits with 16 doubles as well this season.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Pirates have won each of their last 13 home games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Reds have lost each of their last six night games against National League opponents following a road loss.
• The Pirates have covered the run line each of their last eight games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Reds have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six night games against National League opponents following a road loss.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last seven home games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Mitch Keller has recorded a win in each of his last three home appearances.
• Mitch Keller has recorded five or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine home appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances in night games against NL teams that held a winning record.
• Oneil Cruz ranks 2nd in the league in Steals (34) this season.

Total Runs Facts

• Five of the Reds’ last six night games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the last six games between the Reds and Pirates have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction

I’m on the under in this one. You have two solid starting options here with Keller, who still has a sub-4.00 ERA this season it’s just a matter of a lack of run support for him this season, as well as Chase Burns who has great strikeout stuff, but also hasn’t gotten any run support in his starts as well. Either way, I think this ends up being a bit of a lower-scoring duel in this one, maybe not as one sided as Thursday’s matchup, but I still think this game comes in under the total. Give me the under here.