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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds August 9th 2025
Reds vs Pirates Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
- Betting Odds: Reds Moneyline -123, Pirates Moneyline +104, Reds Runline -1.5 (+136), Pirates Runline +1.5 (-162), Total Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
The Reds Can Win If…
The Cincinnati Reds are coming off a narrow 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the game, Gavin Lux had a strong performance with three hits and two runs. Chase Burns also delivered a solid outing, striking out ten over six innings while allowing just one earned run.
The Reds have a solid chance to win with their batting lineup. Elly De La Cruz leads the team with 19 home runs and a .278 batting average. Their on-base percentage ranks 9th in the league, showing they know how to get on base and create scoring opportunities.
Nick Martinez will start on the mound for the Reds, bringing his experience and a 9-9 record. The team’s pitching has held opponents to a .234 batting average, which ranks 5th in the league. With a mix of strong hitting and capable pitching, the Reds have the tools to secure a win.
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates recently defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 at home. Bryan Reynolds led the team with two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs. Mitch Keller pitched well, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing only two earned runs.
The Pirates have shown solid pitching, with an earned run average of 3.83, ranking 11th in the league. Their pitching staff has held opponents to a .236 batting average, which is 6th best. With Braxton Ashcraft starting, the Pirates have a chance to keep the Reds’ bats in check.
Offensively, the Pirates have been effective at drawing walks, ranking 11th in the league. Players like Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds provide experience and power. The Pirates will look to use their recent momentum to secure another win against the Reds.
Reds Look to End PNC Park Slump Against Pirates
The Cincinnati Reds enter Saturday night’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates knowing they can’t afford many more slip-ups if they hope to stay in the National League wild-card race. Trailing the New York Mets by 3 1/2 games, Cincinnati will need to find an answer for its continued struggles in Pittsburgh.
The Reds have dropped the first two games of this four-game series and have now lost all four matchups against the Pirates at PNC Park this season. Overall, Pittsburgh has been dominant at home in the series since 2023, holding a 14-5 record against Cincinnati at home.
Fans and bettors can follow every stat and trend for this matchup in the MLB scores and odds section.
Cincinnati’s Offense Needs a Spark
The Reds’ biggest issue in this series has been a lack of timely hitting. Cincinnati is just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position through the first two games.
On Thursday, the Reds managed seven hits against Pirates ace Paul Skenes — the most he’s given up in his young career — but failed to score in a 7-0 loss. Friday’s 3-2 defeat was even more painful, as Cincinnati let a one-run lead slip away in the eighth inning despite a strong outing from rookie Chase Burns.
Second baseman Matt McLain summed it up: “We just have to play better. … We gotta play the same, no matter who we play. It’s got to be better.”
For more breakdowns of hitting trends and clutch performance data, visit the MLB expert betting guide.
Martinez Gets the Start for Cincinnati
Veteran right-hander Nick Martinez (9-9, 4.66 ERA) will take the mound for Cincinnati in hopes of halting the losing streak. Martinez last pitched in relief on Monday after starter Nick Lodolo left early due to a blister. In that outing, Martinez allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings in a 3-2 Reds win over the Cubs.
Martinez faced the Pirates on May 20 at PNC Park, giving up just one run on four hits over six innings in a 1-0 loss. He is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against Pittsburgh.
Complete team pitching stats for both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are available in the MLB teams section.
Ashcraft Making Second Career Start for Pirates
Pittsburgh will counter with rookie Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 3.24 ERA), who is making just his second career start. The 24-year-old has mostly been used out of the bullpen this year, appearing in 17 games. His lone start came on June 23 at Milwaukee, when he tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.
On Tuesday, Ashcraft pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief against San Francisco, surrendering two runs on five hits. This will be his first career appearance against Cincinnati.
Reynolds Stays Hot for Pirates
Bryan Reynolds has been one of the Pirates’ most reliable offensive weapons lately, delivering a triple to drive in the game-winning runs in Friday’s victory. It was his fifth multi-hit game in his past eight outings.
“Anytime Bryan is going through something or struggling at the plate, everyone knows he’s one swing away from being the best hitter in baseball,” teammate Mitch Keller said.
With Reynolds surging and Ashcraft looking to solidify his place in the rotation, the Pirates will aim to hand Cincinnati another setback in their postseason chase.
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Handicapping Membership
The Lean
The Reds are favored with a moneyline of -123 against the Pirates at +104. The Reds have a better batting average and on-base percentage, which gives them an edge. My model projects the Reds to win with a score of 5-4. Thus, the recommendation is to pick the Reds to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs. Both teams have solid pitching, with the Reds having a slightly better earned run average. My model projects a total score of 9 runs. Therefore, the recommendation is to take the over on the total of 8.5 runs.
