Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 9/3/2018 Prediction & Odds

Reds vs. Pirates Monday Prediction

Coming off a series win over the weekend against red-hot St. Louis, the Cincinnati Reds will look to carry that momentum into their series on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Will the Reds take Game 1?

Game Snapshot & Odds

955 Cincinnati Reds (+116) at 956 Pittsburgh Pirates (-136); 8.5 runs

Monday, September 3, 2018

1:35 p.m. ET, PNC Park

TV: CIN (FSO); PIT (ATTP)

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Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Pirates as a -136 favorite. As of this writing, 64% 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’ Harvey allows five runs against Brewers in last start

Matt Harvey gave up five runs on 11 hits through four innings and did not get a decision as the Reds lost in extra innings to the Brewers on Wednesday. He struck out six batters without issuing a base-on-balls but he gave up a lot of contact. The hardest one was a two-run homer by Christian Yelich in the fifth inning. The poor outing ends a streak of three good starts in a row for the veteran Harvey. He is 6-7 on the year with a 4.97 ERA in 23 starts and four relief appearances split between the Mets and Reds.

Pirates’ Williams blanks Cardinals over six innings

Trevor Williams blanked the Cardinals for six innings and struck out eight in a 2-0 victory Wednesday. Williams's remarkable run continues; he's allowed zero runs in five of his last eight starts and four runs total in the span, taking his ERA from 4.60 all of the way down to 3.30. His peripherals are still pretty average, but fantasy leaguers can continue to roll with him until he hits a bump in the road. He'll face the Reds next.

MLB Betting Trends

Cincinnati

The Reds are 3-8 in their last 11 games.

Pittsburgh

The Pirates have lost nine of their last 12 games.

Prediction:

The Reds are just 1-5 in their last six games versus the Pirates and 2-7 in their last nine games played at PNC Park. The Pirates are also 48-3 in Williams’ last 11 starts when facing a team with a losing record while the Reds have dropped six of Harvey’s last eight road outings. Despite their winning series in St. Louis over the weekend, I don’t see the Reds carrying over that momentum into Monday’s game at PNC Park.

 

The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates -135