Pirates vs. Reds Tuesday Prediction
National League Central rivals open a new series on Tuesday night in Cincinnati as the Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Losers of three straight, will the Bucs end their skid against the Reds?
Game Snapshot & Odds
907 Pittsburgh Pirates (-128) at 908 Cincinnati Reds (+118); 9.5 runs
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
7:10 p.m. ET, Great American Ball Park
TV: PIT (ATTP); CIN (FSO)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Pirates as a -128 favorite. As of this writing, 70% 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’ Taillon allows just two runs in latest start
Jameson Taillon served up a couple solo home runs but didn’t allow anything else over 5 2/3 frames, taking a no-decision in the Pirates’ 3-2 win Wednesday over the White Sox.
Leury Garcia ripped a no-doubter over the right-center field wall to lead off the second inning and Yolmer Sanchez added a blast of his own in the fifth. Taillon was pulled with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth and Edgar Santana put up the fire by getting Daniel Palka to ground out.
The righty didn’t appear to have any issues with the laceration on his middle finger, which forced him out of his last start early. Taillon will carry a 3.97 ERA into Cincinnati in his next outing.
Harvey decent in second start with Reds
Matt Harvey allowed three runs over four innings while striking out five in a no-decision against the Giants on Wednesday. Harvey gave up two runs in the first inning, but he settled down over the final three of his start before leaving with 77 pitches — 55 of those pitches going for strikes.
Since being acquired from the Mets, Harvey has an ERA of 3.75 in his two starts with Cincinnati, and he’s struck out seven. We’ll see the right-hander back on the mound on Tuesday when he faces the Pirates.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have not fared well in Cincinnati, posting a 2-6 record in their last eight road games against the Reds.
Cincinnati
The under is a perfect 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams in Cincinnati and is 7-2 in the last nine meetings overall.
Prediction:
This is chalky and definitely too much of a public play but I can’t help but love the Pirates tonight. Harvey has pitched well in his two starts since the Reds acquired him from the Mets but now he’ll pitch in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park for the first time in his new uniform and will oppose the Pirates’ ace in the process. Pittsburgh’s offense isn’t scary but it’s scrappy and see the Bucos giving Harvey issues tonight. The Pirates are 7-1 in Taillon’s last eight starts coming off five days of rest while the Reds are just 7-24 in their last 31 home games.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates -128