Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 5/3/26, 9:42 AM  by Lou Aguila | Modified on 5/5/26 at 3:58 AM in MLB Picks

At +100 moneyline, the Cincinnati Reds are shaping up to be a sharp play in Game 3 of their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Current Form:

The Cincinnati Reds are trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds were outmatched in the first two games, bowing to the Pirates’ pitching masterclass in Game 1, 1-9, before running out of ammunition in Game 2, 7-17. After allowing 16 runs over the last two games, the Reds have raised their ERA to 9.42 while averaging 4.8 runs per game over the last five games.

The Pirates are two games above .500 following their back-to-back wins. Although their 6.60 ERA over the last five games is still ugly, the Pirates have offset by averaging 8.8 runs per game on a .234 BA.

Starting Pitchers: Reds RHP Chase Burns (3-1, 2.66 ERA) vs. Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.71 ERA).

Burns has led the Reds to victory in his last two starts, surrendering a total of four earned runs. Burns should feel confident facing the Pirates again after throwing five scoreless innings against the team in his March 30 start. Ashcraft looks to bounce back from a poor start, as he allowed six earned runs over 4.1 innings in an 11-7 loss to St. Louis on April 28.