The Cincinnati Reds will be looking to make a move in the NL Central division standings on Friday night as they open up a three-game MLB betting series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds and Pirates are both trying to catch the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central, with Cincinnati holding the slight edge on the MLB odds with six victories in their past 10 games against the division-rival Pirates.
Pittsburgh hands the ball to starter Francisco Liriano in this one and he'll try to improve on his 16-7 mark on the year. Cincinnati counters with Mat Latos, who will try to quiet the fans and the Pirates bats at the same time.
View Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Odds and Stats.
The visitors were 120 moneyline Underdog in this one earlier in the day at most online sportsbooks including Sportsbook. The total was 6.5 at Sportsbook for those preferring over under wagers.
This game puts the Pirates, most recently No. 16 in Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings, up against the Reds, who rate a No. 8 in the latest survey.
Cincinnati was a 6-5 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against the Astros. They won as -147 favorites, while the total score of 11 made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. The Reds beat Houston in extra innings, earning a 6-5 victory at Minute Maid Park in MLB wagering action.
Pittsburgh won its last outing, a 10-1 result against the Padres on September 19. Bettors who backed the Pirates at -181 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (11) sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Gerrit Cole blew away 12 San Diego batter in the Pirates's last start, leading them to a 10-1 win over San Diego on Thursday at PNC Park.
How They Match Up:
When it comes to getting on base, the visiting Reds rank No. 19 at 8.5 hits per game. That compares with Pittsburgh’s No. 23 ranking in that category.
Comparing defensive stats, Cincinnati owns the No. 2-rated road mark, allowing 3.56 runs per game on the highway. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, rates No. 23 in scoring at home.
A few Reds at Pirates trends to consider:
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games at home
Next up:
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, Saturday, September 21st
