Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions May 21st 2025

Run-Starved Pirates Eye Series Win Over Reds Behind Heaney

After snapping a four-game skid with a tight 1-0 win on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping to string together consecutive victories for the first time in nearly a month. With the rubber match against the Cincinnati Reds set for Wednesday afternoon, the Pirates will turn to Andrew Heaney to help them secure the series win and, hopefully, some offensive momentum.

Pitching Carries the Load Again

Tuesday’s game played out like many others this season for the Pirates — minimal offense, maximum reliance on pitching. Bailey Falter delivered yet another strong start, keeping the Reds scoreless through seven innings before handing the game over to the bullpen.

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The lone run came off a Bryan Reynolds RBI single in the sixth inning, which was enough to snap Cincinnati’s five-game winning streak.

The Reds had chances to flip the game, including a promising ninth inning when TJ Friedl opened with a leadoff single after a 10-pitch battle. But the Pirates shut it down quickly, with Santiago Espinal grounding into a double play and Elly De La Cruz flying out to end it.

“I think those are the spots you want to be in. You want to beat those guys and take home a win.”
— David Bednar, Pirates closer

Heaney Looks for Consistency

Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.02 ERA) gets the ball for the series finale. After a couple of rocky starts in which he gave up four runs each, Heaney has found a groove. His last outing against the Phillies saw him allow just one run over five innings. Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn’t preserve the lead in that game.

Against Cincinnati, Heaney is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three career starts. The lone blemish was an April 12 outing when he surrendered a grand slam to Elly De La Cruz.

Reds Counter with Singer

Cincinnati will start Brady Singer (5-2, 5.01 ERA), who rebounded from his worst start of the season with a solid performance against Cleveland. He allowed three runs in five innings and kept the Reds in the game. Singer already has a win against the Pirates this year, though his career ERA against them stands at a shaky 6.32.

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“Every day is a new day, we have another opportunity tomorrow and the guys came out tonight and competed.”
— Don Kelly, Pirates interim manager

Roster Moves and Injury Updates

The Pirates shuffled their bullpen before Wednesday’s game, placing Colin Holderman on the 15-day injured list due to thumb inflammation and calling up Isaac Mattson. Additionally, infielder Nick Gonzales was transferred to the 60-day IL with a left ankle fracture.

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Fans watching this series unfold — especially those exploring MLB picks and predictions — will note the Pirates’ trend of low-scoring, tightly contested games, making under totals and pitching matchups key factors for wagering.