Reds vs. Pirates Sunday Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates will attempt to sweep their National League Central rival the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. Will the Reds pull off the upset or will the Pirates break out their brooms?
Game Snapshot & Odds
901 Cincinnati Reds (+125) at 902 Pittsburgh Pirates (-145); 8.5 runs
Sunday, June 17, 2018
1:35 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: CIN (FSO); PIT (ATTP)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Pirates as a -145 favorite. As of this writing, 76% 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’ DeSclanfi earns win over Cardinals in second start
Anthony DeSclafani allowed two earned runs over five innings against the Cardinals to pick up his first win of 2018 on Sunday. DeSclafani allowed a third run, but it was unearned. It wasn’t a great effort from the right-hander, as he allowed 10 hits and walked two over the five innings. He did strike out six, however, and made key pitches when needed to limit the damage. It’s a much better effort than his season debut on Tuesday, and his ERA drops to 5.40. DeSclafani will make his third start against the Pirates on Sunday.
Pirates’ Musgrove runs into trouble in sixth vs. Diamondbacks
Joe Musgrove allowed three runs over six-plus innings of work with six strikeouts in a no decision against the Diamondbacks on Monday. One of the runs was unearned. Musgrove breezed through the first six innings, but things did not go so well for the former Houston hurler in the seventh. He gave up a pair of run-scoring singles without getting anyone out, and then was charged for one more run in Jake Lamb’s game-tying three-run shot. The line ends up fairly pedestrian, but it isn’t an accurate representation of how well Musgrove pitched tonight, nor now good he was in his previous outings.
MLB Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Reds are 1-7 in their last eight games in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have dropped seven of their last nine games following a win.
Prediction:
I’m going to take a shot on the underdog here. The pitching matchup doesn’t present enough of an advantage for Pittsburgh to sway me to lay the odds on the money line and the Reds are 4-0 in their last four games after losing the first game of a series. With the Pirates having already won the series and these two teams familiar with each other playing in the National League Central, I see some value in Cincinnati.
The Pick: Cincinnati Reds +125