Pittsburgh (68-89) vs Cincinnati (80-77)
September 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Cincinnati -1.5 — Over/Under: +8
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds 12:40 PM EST
Pick: NRFI
The Cincinnati Reds will wrap up their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in a game that carries significant weight for Cincinnati’s postseason hopes. The Reds enter at 80-77, still alive in the Wild Card chase, while the Pirates sit at 68-89 and look to play spoiler down the stretch. Cincinnati will hand the ball to left-hander Nick Lodolo, who has posted an 8-8 record with a 3.44 ERA and will be counted on to deliver a steady outing in front of the home crowd. Pittsburgh counters with right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who has quietly been effective in limited action with a 4-2 record and a 2.62 ERA. I trust Ashcraft to continue his success, and with how poorly the Pirates have been against left-handed pitching, I also expect Nick Lodolo to get us out of the first inning.
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New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs 7:40 PM EST
Pick: NRFI
This matchup between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets carries significant weight as the Mets, sitting around 81–76, continue to fight for a Wild Card spot, while the Cubs, at roughly 88–69, have already clinched a postseason berth but are working to improve their playoff seeding. Chicago is expected to send Shota Imanaga to the mound, providing them with a reliable option, while New York will counter with Nolan McLean, who has shown promise but is less tested at this stage. It looks like there is wind facing towards the infield in Wrigley, and the total is set at 7.5. Both Imanaga and McLean are fully capable of getting out of the first inning in this game without giving up a run. There’s a reason why this is one of the lowest totals on Wednesday’s slate.
Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:07 PM EST
Pick: NRFI
This matchup between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays carries major playoff implications, as the Blue Jays enter at 90–67 with a postseason berth secured and are still battling for the AL East crown, while the Red Sox, at 86–71, remain in the thick of the Wild Card chase. Toronto, despite its strong overall record, has struggled with consistency in recent games, dropping several in a row, which opens the door for Boston to take advantage. On the mound, the Blue Jays will start Shane Bieber, who sits at 3–2 with a 3.57 ERA, while the Red Sox counter with Brayan Bello, who has been more reliable across the season at 11–8 with a 3.34 ERA. With what’s on the line in this game and with who’s on the mound, I expect this to be a lower-scoring game and ultimately should be a good opportunity to attack the NRFI.
Pick: NRFI
The Cincinnati Reds will wrap up their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in a game that carries significant weight for Cincinnati’s postseason hopes. The Reds enter at 80-77, still alive in the Wild Card chase, while the Pirates sit at 68-89 and look to play spoiler down the stretch. Cincinnati will hand the ball to left-hander Nick Lodolo, who has posted an 8-8 record with a 3.44 ERA and will be counted on to deliver a steady outing in front of the home crowd. Pittsburgh counters with right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who has quietly been effective in limited action with a 4-2 record and a 2.62 ERA. I trust Ashcraft to continue his success, and with how poorly the Pirates have been against left-handed pitching, I also expect Nick Lodolo to get us out of the first inning.
Check out Brad’s BEST PICKS, including his $19 PICK OF THE DAY!
New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs 7:40 PM EST
Pick: NRFI
This matchup between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets carries significant weight as the Mets, sitting around 81–76, continue to fight for a Wild Card spot, while the Cubs, at roughly 88–69, have already clinched a postseason berth but are working to improve their playoff seeding. Chicago is expected to send Shota Imanaga to the mound, providing them with a reliable option, while New York will counter with Nolan McLean, who has shown promise but is less tested at this stage. It looks like there is wind facing towards the infield in Wrigley, and the total is set at 7.5. Both Imanaga and McLean are fully capable of getting out of the first inning in this game without giving up a run. There’s a reason why this is one of the lowest totals on Wednesday’s slate.
Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:07 PM EST
Pick: NRFI
This matchup between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays carries major playoff implications, as the Blue Jays enter at 90–67 with a postseason berth secured and are still battling for the AL East crown, while the Red Sox, at 86–71, remain in the thick of the Wild Card chase. Toronto, despite its strong overall record, has struggled with consistency in recent games, dropping several in a row, which opens the door for Boston to take advantage. On the mound, the Blue Jays will start Shane Bieber, who sits at 3–2 with a 3.57 ERA, while the Red Sox counter with Brayan Bello, who has been more reliable across the season at 11–8 with a 3.34 ERA. With what’s on the line in this game and with who’s on the mound, I expect this to be a lower-scoring game and ultimately should be a good opportunity to attack the NRFI.