Pirates at Reds Thursday Prediction
After splitting the first two games of their series, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds will play the rubber match on Thursday afternoon. Are the Reds a good bet to cash for bettors as a home favorite or will the underdog Pirates prevail?
Game Snapshot & Odds
901 Pittsburgh Pirates (+115) at 902 Cincinnati Reds (-126); 9 runs
Thursday, May 24, 2018
12:35 p.m. ET, Great American Ball Park
TV: CIN (FSO)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Reds as a -126 favorite. As of this writing, 66% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Pirates to beat the Reds on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Pirates’ Nova pitches well in loss to Padres
Ivan Nova pitched well in a losing effort against the Padres on Friday, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits over his six innings of work.
The right-hander struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in the ballgame. The Padres pushed a pair of runs across in the fourth inning then broke the 2-2 tie with an RBI single from Franchy Cordero in the sixth. Now 2-4 on the season, Nova will carry a 4.79 ERA and 1.31 WHIP into Thursday’s start against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Reds’ Castillo limits damage in no-decision
Luis Castillo limited the damage in a no-decision against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing just one run on six hits and five walks over his five frames.
Castillo punched out four on the afternoon. He certainly gave fantasy owners a WHIPping in this one, but was fortunate to escape further damage and only surrendered the one run. He was actually in line to earn the victory here until Raisel Iglesias blew a two-run lead in the eighth. The talented, but inconsistent, right-hander will bring a 5.61 ERA and 1.50 WHIP into Thursday’s start against the Pirates.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are 1-4 in their last five games in Cincinnati, are 0-5 in Nova’s last five starts against the Reds and are 0-4 in his last four road outings against Cincinnati as well.
Cincinnati
The under is a perfect 7-0 in the last seven meetings between these two teams at Great American Ball Park after also cashing last night. The under has also hit in nine of the last 11 meetings between these two teams.
Prediction:
The first inclination here is to go with the better team that is also an underdog but the Reds have played well in this series (including in their failed comeback attempt on Wednesday night) and they have a slight edge in the pitching matchup. The Reds are also 4-1 in Castillo’s last five starts and have won seven of his last 10 outings coming off four days of rest, while the Pirates are just 5-11 in Nova’s last 16 outings overall.
The Pick: Cincinnati Reds -126