Reds vs. Pirates Saturday Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates took Game 1 of their series against the Cincinnati Reds with a 3-2 victory on Friday night. Will the underdog Reds even the series at a game apiece when these National League rivals meet again Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
951 Cincinnati Reds (+105) at 952 Pittsburgh Pirates (-115); 8.5 runs
Saturday, June 16, 2018
4:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: CIN (FSO); PIT (ATTP)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Pirates as a -115 favorite. As of this writing, 75% 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.
Reds’ Castillo ripped for five runs despite striking out 10 Cardinals
Luis Castillo yielded five runs on four hits while striking out 10 over six innings in Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Cardinals. Twas the best of times and the worst of times for Castillo on Saturday afternoon. The 10 strikeouts were a season high for the 25-year-old right-hander, but with the five runs allowed, he has now surrendered at least four runs in each of his last three outings. Castillo has the stuff to dominate if everything’s locked in, but he’s been plagued by inconsistency this season. He’ll be bringing a 5.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into a road start against the Pirates in his next scheduled outing.
Pirates’ Nova works 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball vs. Cubs
Ivan Nova held the Cubs to one run over 5 2/3 innings Sunday for his third win of the year. Nova allowed just four hits and struck out eight batters against two walks. Pretty good for his first start back from a sprained finger. The 31-year-old right-hander is 3-5 with a 4.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 55/12 K/BB ratio in 67 1/3 innings (12 starts) this season. He’ll face the Reds at home next.
MLB Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Reds have lost six of their last seven games against the Pirates played at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are 0-6 in Nova’s last six starts against the Reds.
Prediction:
Castillo is arguably the Reds best pitcher but his stuff hasn’t matched his production and until it does I won’t be chasing a bad Cincinnati team. The Pirates are 7-0 in Nova’s last seven starts when their opponent scores two runs or less in their previous game and are 6-0 in his last six outings after allowing two runs or less in their previous game. I’ll bank on Nova building momentum off his start against the Cubs over chasing Castillo to rebound.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates -115