Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 8/9/25, 2:50 PM  by Erik Gibbs | Modified on 8/9/25 at 9:15 PM in MLB Picks

Saturday’s matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park presents two teams heading in different directions in the standings, but both with something to prove. The Reds, now 60-57 after a narrow 3-2 loss on Friday, are clinging to hopes of staying in the NL Central race.

They sit in third place behind the Cubs and Brewers, but their recent slump — three straight losses while scoring just three total runs — is putting pressure on their playoff aspirations. After this series, they’ll return home to face a tough Philadelphia Phillies squad, making this game an important opportunity to regain momentum.

The Pirates, on the other hand, have long been out of postseason contention, sitting last in the NL Central at 51-66. Despite that, they’ve embraced the spoiler role and have been competitive lately, winning three of their last five games.

They opened the series Thursday with a dominant 7-0 shutout over Cincinnati and followed it up with Friday’s victory, building confidence in their ability to frustrate division rivals. While they won’t be chasing a playoff berth, they’re clearly motivated to disrupt the standings for others.