Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Free Pick 05/23/18

The Cincinnati Reds will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. The matchup starts at 7:10 p.m. ET and you can watch it on either ATPT or FSOH.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Odds

Cincinnati (+100) is coming into this one as the underdog against Pittsburgh (-110) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds sitting at +135 for the Pirates -1.5 runs and -155 for the Reds +1.5 runs.

The Reds are 17-32 SU and 25-23 ATS. They’ve lost 12.4 units for moneyline bettors and 4.5 units against the spread (ATS). Cincinnati has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone over in three of those seven. The Pirates have gone 26-21 SU this year and are 22-24 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 3.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going, but have lost 0.5 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.

Reds games have an over/under record of 21-25-2 so far in 2018. Pittsburgh has been a decent over bet with a total record of 24-17-5.

Right-hander Chad Kuhl will get the nod for the visiting Pirates. Kuhl is 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA and 47 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA against Cincinnati this year (two starts).

The Reds are sending righty Homer Bailey (1-6, 6.11 ERA) to the mound. Bailey has 32 punchouts and 20 walks to his name, as well as a 1.60 WHIP. Bailey is 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 7.71 ERA across one starts against Pittsburgh this year.

As a unit, Cincinnati’s pitching staff has allowed 5.1 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 5.50 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.05 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 8.7 K/9. In 23 games against divisional foes, Reds starters have an ERA of 6.11 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.52.

Cincinnati’s offense is putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 2.9 per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .163/.264/.248 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.

Second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jose Peraza have led the Reds’ hitters so far. Gennett is slashing .324/.358/.528 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Peraza is batting .251 with 48 hits, 10 RBIs, 27 runs and eight stolen bases.

For the visitors, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.28 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 7.39 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.91, along with a WHIP of 1.24 and a K/9 of 9.98.

Pirates hitters have slashed .258/.335/.426 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this season, including 6.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).

Outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte have led Pittsburgh’s offense. Dickerson is hitting .302/.341/.485 with five home runs, 29 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Marte (.308/.366/.503) is up to six homers, 19 RBIs, 30 runs and 10 stolen bases.

Marte did not do especially well against righty pitching on the road last season. Over 128 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .250/.289/.317 (his total season line was .275/.333/.379).

The Pirates have gained 2.9 units and are 18-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 16 of those games, as opposed to 15 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Reds have lost 9.0 units and are 18-16 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to 19 that went under.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Reds, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER

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