Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 8/10/25, 9:56 AM  by Erik Gibbs in MLB Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates will welcome the Cincinnati Reds to PNC Park today for the finale of their three-game series, looking to bounce back from a narrow 2-1 defeat in Saturday’s matchup. Cincinnati entered that game in a slump, having lost the first two contests of the series and dropping three straight overall, as well as four of their previous six, which left them 3.5 games behind the final National League Wild Card spot. However, the Reds steadied themselves with Saturday’s win, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

For Pittsburgh, the post–All-Star break stretch has been solid. The club has gone 12-9 in that span, with four of those victories coming via shutout, a testament to the strength of their pitching staff when it’s on point. This is the third series of the year between the Pirates and Reds, with Cincinnati now holding a slight 6-5 edge across their 11 meetings so far in 2025.

The Reds, under first-year Cincinnati manager Terry Francona, have been working to blend their young core with proven experience. Francona inherits a roster that features a capable starting rotation, an offense ranked 12th in MLB in runs scored, and one of the league’s most exciting young stars in 23-year-old shortstop Elly De La Cruz. His rare combination of speed, power, and defensive skill makes him a constant threat on both sides of the ball. Cincinnati’s mix of offensive firepower and solid pitching gives them a playoff-caliber profile, though consistency has been a challenge this season.